Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

Which is an example of cephalocaudal development?

1. Child crawls before he walks, walks before he runs and runs before he jumps

2. Child lifts his head before lifting his shoulders, sits with support before sitting without support

3. A child rakes before developing pincer grasp, develops pincher grasp before feeding himself with a spoon

4. A child first develops reflexive behaviors then develops imitative behaviors

The correct answer is: Child lifts his head before lifting his shoulders, sits with support before sitting without support

Cephalocaudal development refers to the pattern of growth and motor skill development that progresses from the head down to the lower parts of the body. In this context, option B illustrates this principle effectively because it describes how a child gains control starting with head movements and progresses through shoulders, ultimately reaching the ability to sit independently. This sequence is indicative of how developmental milestones prioritize head and upper body control, as an infant typically learns to lift their head first, signaling control and strength in the neck and upper trunk before advancing to the ability to push up their shoulders and eventually sit without support. Such progression aligns perfectly with the cephalocaudal theory, highlighting that development initiates at an upper level and then moves downward through the body. The other options represent different developmental sequences but do not specifically follow the cephalocaudal principle focused on head-to-toe progression. For example, option A describes a progression of gross motor skills in a general sense but does not highlight the head-to-toe aspect. Option C outlines fine motor skill development without addressing the cephalocaudal direction. Option D discusses the evolution of reflexive to imitative behaviors but does not correlate with the cephalocaudal growth pattern. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why option B is indeed