Prenatal Development: Physical: During prenatal development, the general health and age of the mother are very important. Nutrition, anxiety and stress play an important role in physical development during the prenatal stages. Referenced by Eysenck & Schoenthaler (1997) in our text, "A growing body of evidence reveals that when food sources lack protein or essential vitamins and minerals during prenatal and early postnatal development, physical, socio-emotional, and intellectual abilities of an infant are affected. development may be compromised” (cited by Broderick & Blewitt, 2010, p. 56). Genetic and chromosomal problems can begin at conception. Many disorders can be passed down through the functioning of dominant and recessive genes. Most recessive disorders are diagnosed in early childhood. Some genetic disorders include: sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, night blindness, cystic fibrosis, extra fingers, high blood pressure, and Huntington's disease. Chromosomal errors also affect the prenatal stage of development. The most common is Down syndrome, in which a child has 3 copies of chromosome 21. The risk of carrying a child with this condition depends on the age of the mother. Social/Cultural: HIV and AIDS are known to be more prevalent in certain cultures. Environmental: The environment can have a great influence on prenatal development. Broderick and Blewitt (2010) assert that “genes cannot do anything without environmental input – and that environmental effects are shaped by genetic constraints” (p. 34). Teratogens and diseases can cause birth defects during prenatal development. Pregnant mothers should avoid medications, radiation, and stay away from people or places that may be infested with viruses. These can lead to defect middle of paper...... due to genetic and environmental factors. People are starting to worry a lot about their body image and appearance. During this phase, there is a lot of “horse play,” play that sometimes involves hitting, wrestling, chasing, laughing, and yelling. Boys tend to become more active in sports while girls are really interested in their appearance. Boys tend to develop more muscle while girls develop more fatty tissue. From middle childhood to adolescence, individuals should receive all their vaccinations. This may be the stage where they may begin to suffer from an acute health problem or a chronic health problem. Parents who encourage exercise tend to have young people who enjoy it more and are also more competent. Works Cited Broderick, PC & Blewitt, P. (2010). The Span of Life (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.