Answer to Question 1
The textbook, including Table 3.1, describe several reflexes, including the Babinski, blink, Moro, palmar, rooting, stepping, and sucking reflexes. An acceptable answer will identify at least five of these, or may involve reflexes that were presented by an individual instructor that are not specified in the textbook (e.g., grasping reflex) and will adequate explicate each. The general use or purpose of reflexes, as presented by the authors, is to reveal whether a child's nervous system is (a) working properly as reflexes appear, and (b) developing properly as reflexes are expected to wane.
Answer to Question 2
The American Heart Association (2007) defines obesity in terms of not only weight but
also body composition, or the amount of muscle and fatty tissue. Given these criteria,
research studies indicate that between 16 and 25 of American children are obese.
Contributing factors include an increase in television viewing (and the number of
commercials advertising high fat and high sugar foods) and a decline in the number of
families engaging in physical activity as a part of their family interactions.
