Growth and Development

Seven Life
Stages
Growth & Development
Human growth and development- ongoing
processes beginning at birth and ending at death
Growth
Generally refers to changes in structure of size of a
living organism
Development
Refers to successive changes in process of ones natural
growth
4 milestones
Physical
Mental
Emotional
Social

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Life Stages
1. Infancy: Birth to 1 year
2. Early Childhood: 1 year to 6 years
3. Late Childhood: 6 years to 12 years
4. Adolescence: 12 years to 18 years
5. Early Adulthood: 19 years to 40 years
6. Middle Adulthood: 40 years to 65 years
7. Late Adulthood: 65 years and up
Infancy
Birth-1 Year
Physical Growth
Rapid changes
triples weight
teeth
Muscular & Nervous systems immature
muscle coordination develops
reflex actions
vision
Moro Reflex

Grasping Reflex

Rooting Reflex

Babinski Reflex
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JVINnp7
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Infancy
Birth-1 Year
Mental Development
Rapid during first year
Respond to discomforts by crying
Gradually become more aware of surroundings recognize
individuals
As infants respond to stimuli learning activities grow
speech
By 12 months, understand many words and may use single
words

Infancy
Birth-1 Year
Emotional and Social Development
Progresses from the total self-centered concept of the
newborn to a gradual recognition of others in the environment
4 months
recognize persons who care for them
smile
stare at others
6 months
watch activities of others
show signs of possessiveness
shy or withdrawn from strangers
12 months
Mimic gestures, facial expressions, and vocal sounds

Infancy
Birth-1 Year
Healthcare Needs
Dependent on others for all needs
food, cleanliness & rest are essential for physical growth
Love & security
essential for mental growth

*Healthcare providers should provide information on
nutrition, growth, development, sleep patterns, meeting
needs, and creating a healthy environment such as
infection control and infant safety.


Early Childhood 1-6 years
Early Childhood
1-6 Years
Physical Growth
Muscle development allows child to run, climb,
write, draw, and use a fork
Digestive system can handle most adult foods
Learn bowel and bladder control

Early Childhood
1-6 Years
Mental Development
Vocabulary grows to about 2,500 words by
age 6
Short attention spans
Can remember details
Asks lots of questions
Begin to make decisions based on logic
Early Childhood
1-6 Years
Emotional Development
Develop self-awareness
Like routines, become frustrated when stubborn or frustrated
when changes occur- have temper tantrums
Begin to understand the difference between right and wrong
Social Development
Gradually begin to take an interest in others
Fear separation from parents
Early Childhood
1-6 Years
Healthcare Needs
Be sensitive to fears and anxiety
Use play to alleviate fears
Provide simple explanations
Allow a couple of choices
Praise and prizes
Answer questions
Late Childhood
Late Childhood
6-12 Years
Physical Growth
Also called preadolescence
Can engage in physical activities that require complex
muscle coordination
Primary teeth are lost and permanent teeth erupt
Secondary sexual characteristics may start to develop

Late Childhood
6-12 Years
Mental Development
Speech skills more developed, reading and writing
Begin to understand loyalty, honesty, values, and morals
Life centers around school
Emotional Development
Develop independence
More control of emotions
Social Development
Begin to learn group behaviors
Make friends more easily- tend to want to be in a group of
their own sex


Late Childhood
6-12 Years
Healthcare Needs
Healthcare workers must stress safety- very accident prone
Information about personal hygiene, diet, exercise, and
puberty
Let them make some decisions
Provide privacy
Adolescence 12-18 years
Adolescence
12-18 Years
Physical Growth
Rapid increase in height and weight
But not muscle coordination- may lead to
awkwardness, clumsiness
Puberty- development of sexual organs and
secondary sexual characteristics

Adolescence
12-18 Years
Mental Development
Learning to make decisions and accept responsibility for their
actions
Increase in knowledge and sharpening of skills
Emotional Development
Conflict due to being treated as an adult and child
Often feel inadequate and insecure
Worry about appearance, relationships, and abilities
Social Development
Begin to spend less time with family and more time with
friends
Adolescence
12-18 Years
Healthcare Needs
Inadequacy and insecurity develop problems that
may lead to eating disorders drug and alcohol
abuse, and suicide
Healthcare workers must listen to their problems,
answer questions honestly, be sensitive to
nonverbal behavior
Involve them in decision making
Provide education on hygiene, nutrition,
developmental changes, STDs, and substance
abuse
Early Adulthood 19-40 years
Early Adulthood
19-40 Years
Physical Growth
Is basically complete
Motor coordination at its peak
Prime childbearing time
Mental Development
Deals with decision making in career choices,
lifestyle, marriage and children

Early Adulthood
Years
Emotional Development
Stress due to career, marriage, and family
Find satisfaction in achievements
Learn to accept criticism and to profit from mistakes
Social Development
Associate with others who have similar ambitions regardless
of age
Move away from the peer group
Early Adulthood
Years
Healthcare Needs
Information to make wise decisions on wellness and health
goals
Information on lowering stress
Middle Adulthood
Middle Adulthood
40-65 Years
Physical Growth
Hair begins to gray and thin,
skin begins to wrinkle
vision declines
weight gain occurs
Muscle tone decreases
Women experience menopause
Middle Adulthood
40-65 Years
Mental Development
Have acquired an understanding of life and have learned to
cope with stressors
Mental ability can continue to increase
Emotional Development
Can be a period of contentment and satisfaction or can be a
time of crisis
Largely determined by events that occur during this period
Social Development
Family relationships see a decline
Divorce rates are high
Have friends with same interest or hobbies
Middle Adulthood
40-65 Years
Healthcare Needs
Must encourage them to identify risk factors to their
health and make changes to promote wellness.
Increase exercise (decreased muscle tone and
increased weight)
Quit smoking
Avoid alcohol
Be non-judgmental


Late Adulthood
Late Adulthood
65 Years and Up
Physical Development
Changes occur in all body systems - most occur
gradually
Disease can increase the speed of the changes
Lifestyle, nutrition, economic status, and social
environment also effects the speed of changes
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Integumentary System Changes
Dry and less elastic skin and itching
Dark yellow or brown spots appear on skin
Lines and wrinkles develop
Nails become thick and brittle
Elderly persons frequently feel cold due to
increased sensitivity to temperature changes

Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Musculoskeletal System Changes
Muscles lose tone, volume, and strength
Bones become brittle and break more easily
(osteoporosis)
Joints become stiff, less flexible, and painful
(arthritis)
Gradual decrease in height
Weakness, slower movements
Balance is off resulting in falls


Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Respiratory System Changes
Breathing muscles become weaker
Rib cage becomes more rigid
Larynx changes leave weaker voice that may be
higher pitched
Difficulty coughing up secretions from lungs
More susceptible to colds and pneumonia and
other respiratory illnesses

Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Circulatory System Changes
Heart muscles cannot beat as forcibly to push
blood into arteries so cardiac output decreases
and heart rate increases
Blood vessels narrow and are less elastic
Blood flow to brain and other vital organs may
decrease
Blood pressure may increase
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Digestive System Changes
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty chewing
Indigestion
Constipation
More gas
Poor appetite
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Kidneys decrease in size and are less
efficient
Bladder retains urine because doesnt empty
completely
Need to urinate more often including at night
which interrupts sleep (nocturia)
More bladder infections
Prostate enlargement in males
Incontinence
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Reproductive System Changes
Sexual desire may or may not diminish
Females
Breasts sag when fat is redistributed
Thinning in vaginal walls and less vaginal secretions
Vaginal infections are more common
Males
Testes become smaller and less firm
Response to sexual stimulation is slower in male
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Endocrine System Changes
Increase in some hormones and decrease in
other hormones
Immune system is less effective
Basic metabolic rate decreases
Intolerance to glucose can result in increased
blood glucose levels
Common Changes in the Body
Systems with that Occur with Aging
Things to do to help
Proper exercise
Adequate rest
Balanced diet
Healthy lifestyle
Medical care for illnesses

Late Adulthood
65 Years and Up
Mental Development
Brain begins to shrink, information processing slows
Long-term memory intact, short-term may be less
acute
Decrease blood flow to brain
Memory loss
Sense of smell, taste, vision, and hearing decreases
Nerve endings less sensitive to pain and other stimuli
More susceptible to injuries

Late Adulthood
65 Years and Up
Emotional Development
After retirement from work, may feel sense of loss
and grief
May face death of a spouse
Social Development
Often increased spirituality
May move into retirement homes
Development of new social contacts are important
at this time so the person can find new social
roles
Late Adulthood
65 Years and Up
Healthcare Needs
Let them have as much independence as
possible!!!
Provide healthcare information as illnesses occur
Help them adjust to physical and mental changes
Provide a safe environment
Teach them how to prevent infection