GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT:

The Concept of Growth and Development

The terms growth and development are often used
interchangeably. Actually, they are conceptually different. Neither
growth nor development takes place all by itself.
Introduction
Growth and development is the over all development of a person, physical
and mental development. The process of development goes altogether in all
fields, cognitive development, physical development, emotional
development. When a child born it goes through different stages;
Childhood stage
Boyhood stage
Mature puberty
Adulthood stage
During all these stages child complete it growth and development and
become adult.
Growth
From the very start of human life, changes start take place in human body.
This physical change is known as growth. Growth is also quantitative in
measure and could be seen in structural and physiological changes in the
body.
The growth process is slow in nature and organized. These changes could be
seen in the shape of height and weight, this phenomenon of changes in
human body is called growth.
Development
With the growth process, there is another process which is called
development, take place in the human body. This process is little different
from growth process. With the time when changes take place in human body,

human start shown other body functions, for example moving, crawl and
after some time learn to stand and walk.
Development means a progressive series of changes that occur in
an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of maturation and
experience E.B. Hurlock.
The change in body functions, due to the changes in structure of body parts
is called development.
Different parts of growth and development
1. Physical growth and development
2. Social growth and development
3. Emotional development
4. Mental development
1. Physical growth and development
It includes changes in weight and height and growth in different body parts,
with the passage of time, it mainly depend on the diet and environmental
condition as well as the home condition. A rich diet will help in better growth
and development of a child.
2. Social growth and development
Social growth and development is very necessary because it helps the child
to understand various norms and values and became a better person of the
society.
3. Emotional development
Child by birth has different natural emotions and instincts and with the time
some instincts and emotions disappear while with the time some new
emotion and instincts manifest, according to psychologist, emotion are
related to physical changes.
Environment also plays a vital role in the development of these emotions.
And with the time it became the part of human personality.
4. Mental development

In the early stages the ideas of children are vague and unclear, with time
gradually, these refined. It help the child to use his senses and develop the
capacity to think and understand. It impel the growth in his metal ability, by
the time when child reaches puberty his intelligence, level can be defined.
The metal growth of a child starts from the very first day of his life when he
born and effect his whole life.
Stages of social, physical, emotional and mental development
childhood (till 4 years)
boyhood stage ( five to ten years)
pre mature puberty ( to 15 year)
adulthood stage (after 15 year)
Childhood stage
Early childhood is the time of a tremendous growth and development across
all areas. The new born baby grows into a young person who can take care of
his body with the help of other. It is the primary stage in which different skill
development take place. This stage stays up to the age of four to five years
and According to some expert up to eight year.
Physical development childhood stage
At the time of birth male child is born up to 7,5 pound and girl up to 7 pound.
The height is above 52 centimetres. With the passage of time development is
quite fast. Physically, in this stage up to three years a child doubles in weight
and height. Children totally depend on others in this stage
Social Development in this stage
In this stage, the children like parents, siblings, home and toys. The child
understands itself but is dependent on others.
Emotional development
At this stage child had inherent emotions. This stage is considered very
important for the personalitys development. It is the foundation for the child
building personality.
Mental Development

Each child has inherent intelligence; they feel happy when they satisfy. They
do every thing what give them happiness regardless the consequences of
their actions
Boyhood stage (up to 10 years)
This period is from five to ten years,
Physical development, in the boyhood stage physical development is
comparatively slower than childhood stage. Child grows at the rate of two
inches per anum, especially the child grows in height in this stage.
Social development
In this stage children love to play games, children learn to adjust it self in
environment and make new friends, they feel happy to participate in
activities in home with parents
Emotional development
This stage is also very important in the life of a child, In this stage children
are very emotional and keen to learn. In this stage they understand their
relation with the other members of the society and relatives.
Mental development
At this stage up to the age six years and according to some psychologist at
the age of eight years the brain complete and all five senses are developed
and used. At this stage the child should be given special attention and
involved him in the learning base activities to develop his brain.
5. Adolescence stage (10 to 15 year)
Adolescence is a Latin word, which derived from the word adolescere
meaning to grow up, or grow to maturity. This period is from 10 to 15 years
of age, it is a period of life between the age of child hood and

adulthood
The adolescent stage is another period of accelerated growth. Individual can
grow up to four inches, and increase in weight up to ten pounds per year. At
the end of this stage, individuals may gain seven to nine inches in height and
forty to forty five pounds in weight.
Physical Growth and Development

This stage is slow until the age of 12 years, after 12 years it speed up till the
age of 15 years, in this stage individual increase in height and weight, girls
growth in reproductive organs and voice became mature and start of periods,
boys grow moustaches
Social development
Increase in friends in this stage, the child is attractive to opposite sex and
like to here stories of heroes and fore fathers
Emotional development
This stage bring strange feeling to them, many new emotion manifested and
children became very touchy, at this stage they like to talk to opposite sex,
sexual desires in this stage are very power full. In this stage careful guidance
of an adult is required, to help them in understanding and controlling these
emotions
Mental development
Child is very suspicious about every one, he want to know about every thing,
weakness in self confidence and like to talks to adults and behave like adults
and very moody. At this stage child develop self willpower and determination
Adulthood age (after 15 years)
This stage begins after the age of fifteen years, this is the stage where the
child crosses the stage of childhood to manhood, and became an adult. Enter
in to practical life and begin facing the challenges of life, get married and
starts his own family.
Physical development
Physical development is very slow at this stage and stop after a certain age,
and after that it decline with the passage of time
Social Development
Get married, have children of their own and take responsibilities and become
a active member of the society
Emotional development
Lack of coordination between mental and physical maturity in this stage
Mental development

Intelligence until the age of 6 to 8 years and maintain standard after that,
after the age of 60 years, the stage of decline come in intelligence

3.2.2 The Principles of Growth and Development

Following are the fundamental principles of growth and
development.
(i) Development follows a pattern or a sequence:
Development tends to proceed from the head downward.
This is called the cephalocaudal principle. According to this
principle, the child first gains control of the head, then the arms,
then the legs. Infants gain control of head and face movements
within the first two months after birth. In the next few months, they
are able to lift themselves up using their arms. By 6 to 12 months of
age, infants start to gain leg control and may be able to crawl,
stand, or walk.
Development also proceeds from the center of the body
outward according to the proximodistal principle. Accordingly, the
spinal cord develops before other parts of the body. The childs
arms develop before the hands, and the hands and feet develop
before the fingers and toes. Fingers and toes are the last to
develop.
(ii) Development proceeds from general to specific responses:
It moves from a generalized to localized behaviour. The

newborn infant moves its whole body at one time instead of moving
only one part of it. It makes random kicking with its legs before it
can coordinate the leg muscles well enough to crawl or to walk.
(iii) Development is a continuous process:
Development does not occur in spurts. Growth continues
from the moments of conception until the individual reaches
maturity. It takes place at slow regular pace rather than by leaps
and bounds. Although development is a continuous process, yet
the tempo of growth is not even, during infancy and early years
growth moves swiftly and later it slacken.
(iv) Different aspects of growth develop at different rates
Neither all parts of the body grow at the same rate nor do all
aspects of mental growth proceed equally. They reach maturity at
different times. Development also depends on maturation.
Maturation refers to the sequence of biological changes in
children. These orderly changes give children new abilities. Much of
the maturation depends on changes in the brain and the nervous
system. These changes assist children to improve their thinking
abilities and motor skills. A rich learning environment helps children
develop to their potential.
Children must mature to a certain point before they can gain
some skills. For instance, the brain of a four-month-old has not
matured enough to allow the child to use words. A four-month-old
will babble and coo. However, by two years of age, with the help of
others, the child will be able to say and understand many words.

This is an example of how cognitive development occurs from

simple tasks to more tasks that are complex. Likewise, physical
skills develop from general to specific movements. For example,
think about the way an infant waves its arms and legs. In a young
infant, these movements are random. In several months, the infant
will likely be able to grab a block with his or her whole hand. In a
30
little more time, the same infant will grasp a block with the thumb
and forefinger.
(v) Most traits are correlated in development:
Generally, it is seen that the child whose intellectual
development is above average is so in health size, sociability and
special aptitudes.
(vi) Growth is complex:
All of its aspects are closely interrelated. The childs mental
development is intimately related to his physical growth and its
needs.
(vii) Growth is a product of the interaction of the organism and
environment:
Among the environmental factors one can mention nutrition,
climate the conditions in the home, the type of social organization in
which individual moves and lives.
(viii) There are wide individual differences in growth:
Individual differences in growth are caused by differences in
heredity and environment.

(ix) Growth is both quantitative and qualitative:

These two aspects are inseparable. The child not only grows
in size; he grows up or matures in structure and function too.
(x) Development is predictable:
It is possible for us to predict at an early age the range within
which the mature development of the child is likely to fall. However,

mental development cannot be predicted with the same degree of

accuracy.