Certificate In Psychology (CPSY) Practice Exam

How does children's physical growth rate during the second year compare to the first year?

1. It is about twice as fast.

2. It is a little faster.

3. It is about the same.

4. It is slower.

The correct answer is: It is slower.

Children's physical growth rate during the second year is indeed slower compared to the first year. During the first year of life, infants experience rapid growth, typically experiencing a weight increase of about 150% and an increase in length of nearly 50%. This rapid growth is driven by the need for significant physical development, as infants are moving from a largely dependent state toward greater mobility and interaction with their environment. In contrast, during the second year, while children continue to grow, the rate of growth significantly slows down. This is partly because the foundational growth established during the first year stabilizes, and the body begins to focus on developing motor skills and fine-tuning physical capabilities rather than just adding mass. In this period, toddlers typically gain about 10-12 pounds and grow about 4-5 inches in height, illustrating a marked decrease in growth speed. This pattern is reflective of normal development, where intense growth spurts are common in infancy but become less pronounced as children transition into toddlerhood and beyond.