The purpose of this work is to show, through evidence derived from scientific studies of healthy and well-nourished infants as well as infants selected from populations with high rates of chronic infection and malnutrition, that the order in the emergence of motor milestones is stable among these two groups. On the other hand, among the children at risk, the variance in the age of emergence of the same milestones was wider than that among the healthy and well-nourished children. The similarities between groups suggest that genetic factors explain the stability of order of emergence of the milestones, while social and cultural factors may explain the differences between groups in the variance in the age of acquisition. The information has theoretical and applied value in the evaluation of motor development in order to identify the determinants of this area of development. / El propósito del trabajo es mostrar, mediante evidencia proveniente de estudios científicos con infantes sanos y bien nutridos y con poblaciones infantiles con altas tasas de desnutrición e infecciones, que el orden en que se presenta la emergencia de los hitos motores gruesos es estable en estos dos grupos. Por otro lado, la variabilidad en la edad de adquisición de los mismos entre los infantes en riesgo es mayor que en los niños sanos y bien nutridos. Los resultados sugieren que factores genéticos pueden contribuir a la estabilidad en el orden de emergencia y que factores socioculturales y de salud pueden haber contribuido al origen de las diferencias en la edad de adquisición. La información tiene importancia teórica y aplicada para la evaluación del desarrollo motor con el propósito objetivo de identificar los determinantes de dicha área del desarrollo.

Sensitive and responsive parenting during early infancy is highly understudied, particularly in families with a low socioeconomic status. Longitudinal data from 41 mothers and their 4 to 16 week old infants found that accurate maternal knowledge of infant development positively affected parenting contemporaneously and over time while depression did not affect parenting in this sample. Implications for intervention and research are discussed.

Este estudo teve como propósito refletir acerca dos efeitos motores e comportamentais que as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês poderiam provocar em seus participantes. As publicações sobre a primeira infância apresentam uma tendência a tratar o desenvolvimento infantil predominantemente sobre aspectos biológicos, desconsiderando a relevância das relações intra e interpessoais e com o meio. Pouco se tem publicado sobre os processos pedagógicos lúdicos na água, onde se intenciona trazer a tona os prazeres e desprazeres dos participantes. O propósito inicial era saber dos efeitos motivacionais que poderiam ser trabalhados no meio aquático, através de estratégias de intervenção pedagógica. Foi um desafio encontrar um caminho para organizar as informações que o estudo se propunha, por entender-se que o tema é polêmico e requer investigação científica na construção deste conhecimento, já que há um aumento na prática de atividades aquáticas com bebês que gera em alguns casos expectativa de se iniciar cada vez mais cedo. A metodologia utilizada configurou-se como qualitativa, optando-se pela pesquisa descritiva, considerada como o método que melhor se ajustava ao estudo em questão. Contou com seis participantes, formados pelo bebê e seu(s) cuidador(es), que em todos os casos tratava-se do pai ou da mãe (pais-bebê). Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de informações foram: a observação; registro fotográfico; registro em video-tape; a análise de documentários gravados em vídeo; e a entrevista. A análise e interpretação das informações foram realizadas a partir de cinco categorias que surgiram das entrevistas e depoimentos cedidos pelos pais. São elas: “A motivação de buscar as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês”; “O Meio e as Atividades Aquáticas”; “Reações Comportamentais e Motoras”; “Processo de Aprendizagem”; “Relações de Dependência e Autonomia”. O estudo põe em evidência que esta estratégia pedagógica de intervenção pela via corporal no meio aquático, que utilizou como âncora pedagógica atividades lúdicas e de sensibilização, serviu de alavanca para desencadear o processo de maturação biológica e comportamental dos participantes do estudo, demonstrando que a idade cronológica não é fator limitador no processo de desenvolvimento dos bebês no meio aquático. / This study aimed at evaluating the motor and behavioral effects of aquatic experiences over its participants. The available literature about early infancy tends to focus on biological aspects and neglects the relevance of personal interaction among group members as well as the interaction between the group and the water environment. Very little material has been published on ludic, pedagogic procedures in the water which analyzes likes and dislikes of participants. The basic purpose was to investigate the motivational effects that could be used in the water environment by means of pedagogic intervenience strategies. Finding a way to organize all the information collected was a challenging task since this is an issue which raises controversy and requires scientific investigation in order to build such know-how, not to mention the increased demand in aquatic activities with babies which sometimes leads to the expectation of getting started earlier and earlier. A qualitative methodology and descriptive approach were judged to be the most appropriate for this study. Six babies with their respective keepers took part in the experiment. For each baby the keeper was always a parent. In order to collect information the following were used: observation; photographic record; video-tape recording; analysis of video-taped documentaries; and an interview. The analysis and interpretation of information were performed with basis on five categories defined by the interview and parents’ statements. Namely: “Motivation to pursue aquatic experiences for babies”; “The environment and aquatic activities”; “Behavioral and motor reactions”; “Learning process”; “Dependence and autonomy relations”. The study makes evident the fact that this pedagogical strategy, based on physical activity in the water environment which used ludic and sensitivity development activities as a pedagogical approach, triggers the process of biological and behavioral maturation of participants and demonstrates that chronological age is not a limiting factor in the process of development of babies in the water environment.

Este estudo teve como propósito refletir acerca dos efeitos motores e comportamentais que as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês poderiam provocar em seus participantes. As publicações sobre a primeira infância apresentam uma tendência a tratar o desenvolvimento infantil predominantemente sobre aspectos biológicos, desconsiderando a relevância das relações intra e interpessoais e com o meio. Pouco se tem publicado sobre os processos pedagógicos lúdicos na água, onde se intenciona trazer a tona os prazeres e desprazeres dos participantes. O propósito inicial era saber dos efeitos motivacionais que poderiam ser trabalhados no meio aquático, através de estratégias de intervenção pedagógica. Foi um desafio encontrar um caminho para organizar as informações que o estudo se propunha, por entender-se que o tema é polêmico e requer investigação científica na construção deste conhecimento, já que há um aumento na prática de atividades aquáticas com bebês que gera em alguns casos expectativa de se iniciar cada vez mais cedo. A metodologia utilizada configurou-se como qualitativa, optando-se pela pesquisa descritiva, considerada como o método que melhor se ajustava ao estudo em questão. Contou com seis participantes, formados pelo bebê e seu(s) cuidador(es), que em todos os casos tratava-se do pai ou da mãe (pais-bebê). Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de informações foram: a observação; registro fotográfico; registro em video-tape; a análise de documentários gravados em vídeo; e a entrevista. A análise e interpretação das informações foram realizadas a partir de cinco categorias que surgiram das entrevistas e depoimentos cedidos pelos pais. São elas: “A motivação de buscar as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês”; “O Meio e as Atividades Aquáticas”; “Reações Comportamentais e Motoras”; “Processo de Aprendizagem”; “Relações de Dependência e Autonomia”. O estudo põe em evidência que esta estratégia pedagógica de intervenção pela via corporal no meio aquático, que utilizou como âncora pedagógica atividades lúdicas e de sensibilização, serviu de alavanca para desencadear o processo de maturação biológica e comportamental dos participantes do estudo, demonstrando que a idade cronológica não é fator limitador no processo de desenvolvimento dos bebês no meio aquático. / This study aimed at evaluating the motor and behavioral effects of aquatic experiences over its participants. The available literature about early infancy tends to focus on biological aspects and neglects the relevance of personal interaction among group members as well as the interaction between the group and the water environment. Very little material has been published on ludic, pedagogic procedures in the water which analyzes likes and dislikes of participants. The basic purpose was to investigate the motivational effects that could be used in the water environment by means of pedagogic intervenience strategies. Finding a way to organize all the information collected was a challenging task since this is an issue which raises controversy and requires scientific investigation in order to build such know-how, not to mention the increased demand in aquatic activities with babies which sometimes leads to the expectation of getting started earlier and earlier. A qualitative methodology and descriptive approach were judged to be the most appropriate for this study. Six babies with their respective keepers took part in the experiment. For each baby the keeper was always a parent. In order to collect information the following were used: observation; photographic record; video-tape recording; analysis of video-taped documentaries; and an interview. The analysis and interpretation of information were performed with basis on five categories defined by the interview and parents’ statements. Namely: “Motivation to pursue aquatic experiences for babies”; “The environment and aquatic activities”; “Behavioral and motor reactions”; “Learning process”; “Dependence and autonomy relations”. The study makes evident the fact that this pedagogical strategy, based on physical activity in the water environment which used ludic and sensitivity development activities as a pedagogical approach, triggers the process of biological and behavioral maturation of participants and demonstrates that chronological age is not a limiting factor in the process of development of babies in the water environment.

Este estudo teve como propósito refletir acerca dos efeitos motores e comportamentais que as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês poderiam provocar em seus participantes. As publicações sobre a primeira infância apresentam uma tendência a tratar o desenvolvimento infantil predominantemente sobre aspectos biológicos, desconsiderando a relevância das relações intra e interpessoais e com o meio. Pouco se tem publicado sobre os processos pedagógicos lúdicos na água, onde se intenciona trazer a tona os prazeres e desprazeres dos participantes. O propósito inicial era saber dos efeitos motivacionais que poderiam ser trabalhados no meio aquático, através de estratégias de intervenção pedagógica. Foi um desafio encontrar um caminho para organizar as informações que o estudo se propunha, por entender-se que o tema é polêmico e requer investigação científica na construção deste conhecimento, já que há um aumento na prática de atividades aquáticas com bebês que gera em alguns casos expectativa de se iniciar cada vez mais cedo. A metodologia utilizada configurou-se como qualitativa, optando-se pela pesquisa descritiva, considerada como o método que melhor se ajustava ao estudo em questão. Contou com seis participantes, formados pelo bebê e seu(s) cuidador(es), que em todos os casos tratava-se do pai ou da mãe (pais-bebê). Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta de informações foram: a observação; registro fotográfico; registro em video-tape; a análise de documentários gravados em vídeo; e a entrevista. A análise e interpretação das informações foram realizadas a partir de cinco categorias que surgiram das entrevistas e depoimentos cedidos pelos pais. São elas: “A motivação de buscar as Vivências Aquáticas para Bebês”; “O Meio e as Atividades Aquáticas”; “Reações Comportamentais e Motoras”; “Processo de Aprendizagem”; “Relações de Dependência e Autonomia”. O estudo põe em evidência que esta estratégia pedagógica de intervenção pela via corporal no meio aquático, que utilizou como âncora pedagógica atividades lúdicas e de sensibilização, serviu de alavanca para desencadear o processo de maturação biológica e comportamental dos participantes do estudo, demonstrando que a idade cronológica não é fator limitador no processo de desenvolvimento dos bebês no meio aquático. / This study aimed at evaluating the motor and behavioral effects of aquatic experiences over its participants. The available literature about early infancy tends to focus on biological aspects and neglects the relevance of personal interaction among group members as well as the interaction between the group and the water environment. Very little material has been published on ludic, pedagogic procedures in the water which analyzes likes and dislikes of participants. The basic purpose was to investigate the motivational effects that could be used in the water environment by means of pedagogic intervenience strategies. Finding a way to organize all the information collected was a challenging task since this is an issue which raises controversy and requires scientific investigation in order to build such know-how, not to mention the increased demand in aquatic activities with babies which sometimes leads to the expectation of getting started earlier and earlier. A qualitative methodology and descriptive approach were judged to be the most appropriate for this study. Six babies with their respective keepers took part in the experiment. For each baby the keeper was always a parent. In order to collect information the following were used: observation; photographic record; video-tape recording; analysis of video-taped documentaries; and an interview. The analysis and interpretation of information were performed with basis on five categories defined by the interview and parents’ statements. Namely: “Motivation to pursue aquatic experiences for babies”; “The environment and aquatic activities”; “Behavioral and motor reactions”; “Learning process”; “Dependence and autonomy relations”. The study makes evident the fact that this pedagogical strategy, based on physical activity in the water environment which used ludic and sensitivity development activities as a pedagogical approach, triggers the process of biological and behavioral maturation of participants and demonstrates that chronological age is not a limiting factor in the process of development of babies in the water environment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between early eye tracking and later non-suicidal self-injury, and whether this relationship was negatively impacted by distress and impulsivity, and conversely alleviated by emotional regulation and problem solving abilities. Briggs-Gowan et al. (2001) found that young children with recurrent and comorbid externalizing and internalizing problems have the most impairment; they exhibit greater difficulty with emotional stability, and require greater utilization of mental health services. Little research has focused on the relationship between eye tracking in early infancy and suicidal self-injurious (NSSI) behavior in early childhood. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine if eye-tracking in early infancy and later self-injurious behavior is mediated by impulsivity, distress, problem solving, and emotion regulation; for which child’s gender and income-to- needs as the control variables. Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD). When examining the mediating influence of early eye tracking at 15 months in the relationship between self-injurious behavior at 15 years of age, distress at 54 months, impulsivity at 54 months, emotion regulation in the 5th grade, and problem solving in the 6th grade, it was found that these variables did not have a significant mediating effect. Although the hypothesized path model was the most parsimonious, the results suggested that impulsivity acts as a mediator in the relationship between SES and problem solving. As such, impulsivity may be directly associated with the functions of problem solving. The significance of this study is that it adds to the research that emphasizes the importance of understanding early markers (e.g., eye tracking in early infancy) for social outcomes and should be utilized by educators, parents, and early intervention programs to ensure social success for children. However, the results in this study should not be considered for the use of policymaking, given the limitations presented.

Neuropsychological developmental screening (NES) is a German tool (published in 2005) for assessing eight fields of development of children aged 3 to 24 months. It is designed for pediatritians, early intervention specialists and psychologists. This thesis builds on A. Klapetek's thesis and aims to verify and check accurancy of Czech translation of the tool by administring the test to a group of Czech children. A. Klapetek conducted a pilot study of the tool. 50 children (10 for every age group) were administred the translation which was being refined during the field research. She also planned further steps to applying NES. Literature review of the thesis deals with developmental characteristics of infants and toddlers. Psychological assessment of young children and its uses and risks are described. The thesis also persues developmental scales, their history and present state. Theoretical concept of the Neuropsychological developmental screening (NES) is introduced. During the field research a group of 50 children was assessed by Czech translation of the tool, and the same group was tested by Developmental screening (Kovařík). Results of the testing were used to discuss existing norms of the tool, to identify problematic exercises (both too difficult and too easy) and to statistically analyse...