Glossary of Terms

Short explanations of terms you may come across throughout the book and in your conversations with specialists.

Receptive language

A child's understanding of the words and commands they hear; it always runs ahead of their ability to express themselves.

Asymmetry

A marked difference between the two sides of the body; using one arm or leg far less than the other.

Attachment

The bond a child forms with their caregiver; when it is secure, it gives the feeling that "if something happens, they will be there for me."

Head circumference

The measurement around a baby's head; it is the simplest and most reliable way to follow the brain's development from the outside.

Head control

A baby's ability to hold their head upright and steady; it is the fundamental first step of motor development.

Cognitive development

The development of thinking, learning, curiosity, remembering, problem-solving, and attention skills.

Denver test

A developmental screening test that assesses a child's language, movement, social, and fine hand skills through play-like activities.

Dyscalculia

A learning difference in which the sense of numbers has not developed sufficiently, showing itself as difficulty with mathematics and numbers.

Dysgraphia

A learning difficulty in writing and handwriting that makes it hard for a child to put the thoughts in their head onto paper.

Dyslexia

A reading difficulty that makes it hard to connect a letter's sound to its shape, making reading slow and effortful. ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) A developmental condition that arises from the brain's brake and attention systems working differently; it involves focusing attention, restlessness, and patience.

Sensory processing

The brain's perceiving and processing of senses such as sound, touch, and light; some children may show excessive or unusual reactions to these.

EEG (electroencephalography)

A harmless examination that records the brain's electrical activity and is used in evaluating seizures.

Crawling

The period when a baby begins to move about after sitting; besides cross-pattern crawling, other ways of getting around are also normal.

Empathy

The ability to put oneself in another's place; it usually begins to bud around the age of four or five with the realization that others think differently.

Developmental screening

A snapshot that measures development objectively at certain ages using a standard questionnaire or checklist.

Regression

The loss of a skill a child had previously gained; at any age, it is the most urgent warning sign.

Secure attachment

A child's trust in their caregiver and their use of that caregiver as a safe base to return to while exploring the world.

Expressive language

A child's ability to express themselves with words or signs; it usually develops after the ability to understand.

Fine motor

Skills of the hands that require dexterity, such as holding a small object with the fingers, using a spoon, or scribbling.

Follow-up (monitoring)

The uninterrupted tracking in which development is quietly reviewed at every check-up; it is like a continuously running video.

Gross motor

Movement skills that use the large muscles, such as holding the head up, sitting, crawling, walking, and running.

Gross motor function levels

A simple leveling system that describes, in a common language, how much a child with cerebral palsy can move about in daily life.

Muscle tone

The natural tension of the muscles; excessive stiffness or excessive floppiness like a rag doll are conditions that need to be evaluated.

Critical period

A narrow window of time when the brain is most ready to receive a certain stimulus; if that stimulus does not arrive in time, the related ability may be permanently harmed.

Sensitive period

A more flexible window of time when a skill is learned most easily, but when learning is still possible later on.

Milestone (developmental step)

An expected step in development such as sitting, walking, or the first word; it is not a single line but a wide age range.

Temperament

The style a child is born with; some are active and exuberant, some shy and cautious, and both are normal.

Myelin

The protective sheath that covers nerve cells and speeds up communication between them.

Seizure

A sudden, excessive, and uncontrolled electrical discharge of a group of cells in the brain; a single seizure does not mean epilepsy.

Epilepsy

An ongoing condition in which the brain is prone to having seizures; most children do well with appropriate follow-up and treatment.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to shape itself, learn, and repair through experience; this capacity is at its highest in childhood.

Tantrum

A child suddenly losing control, crying and shouting; at a young age it is natural, because the brain's brake is not yet fully developed.

Joint attention

A child looking at something and then turning to you to share that moment together; it is the foundation of speech and friendship.

Self-regulation

A child's ability to recognize and calm their own emotions; what is at first being soothed from the outside gradually becomes their own skill.

Cerebral palsy

A permanent but non-progressive difference caused by early involvement of the brain regions that govern movement and balance.

Spastic type

The most common form of cerebral palsy; it shows itself through muscles that are constantly tense and stiff.

Synapse

The point of communication and connection between two nerve cells.

Synaptic pruning

The brain's clearing away of unused, weak connections and strengthening of those that are used often.

Nerve cell (neuron)

The basic building block of the brain; information flows thanks to the connections they form with one another.

Social smile

A baby's smile while looking at your face, usually toward the end of the second month; it is the first sign that they recognize you.

Sleep hygiene

Simple and consistent habits that regularly send a child's brain the message that it is "time to sleep" and support healthy sleep.

Occupational therapy

Therapy that supports a child in becoming independent in daily tasks such as dressing, feeding, play, and school, using their hands.

Physiotherapy

A supportive method aimed at strengthening the muscles and movement, used in conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A developmental profile seen in differences in the way a child perceives the world, forms bonds, and communicates.

Spectrum

The idea of a range, expressing that in autism two children may not resemble each other at all and that everyone needs a different level of support.

Corrected age

The age calculated according to the expected due date when evaluating the development of a baby born early.

Hidden hunger

When a child, even if they appear to be at a normal weight, lacks certain building blocks their brain needs, such as iron and iodine.

Executive function

The part of the brain that works like a "traffic officer"; it covers planning, impulse control, and flexibility skills.