Growth , DEVELOPMENT and

MATURATION
DR:SAHAR ANWAR RIZK

Growth and development

The term growth and development or both

refer to dynamic process . They often used
changeably ,these terms have different
denotations.

Growth :is physical change and increase

in size and it can be measure.
Indicators of growth include height ,
weight, bone size size and dentition.

DEVELOPMENT

IS an increase in the complexity of

function and skill progression.
It is a capacity and skill of person to
function
DEVELOPMENT: is a behavior e.g: the
person develop their ability to walk ,
talk, to run .ext .

Growth and development: are independent ,

interrelated processes e.g an infant muscles, bones
and nervous system must grow to a certain point
before, the infant sit up or walk.
Growth: generally takes place during the first 20 years
of life, development continue after that.

Maturation

Is the sequence of physical changes

that are related to genetic influences.
Maturation: is independent on the
environment but its timing can be
influenced by environmental factors.
The rate of person growth and
development is highly individualized,
however the sequence is predictable.

Factors influencing the growth

and development

The factors that influencing the growth and

development are both genetic and environmental.
Genetic factors determine such characteristics such
as sex, physical, status and race.
Environmental factors affect an individual growth and
development, some of these are: family, religion,
climate, culture, school, community and nutrition.
Poorly nourished child is more likely to have infection
than a well fed child and may not attain his or her
potential heigth.

Types of growth and

development

Physical and physiological

Social
Motor
Mental
Spiritual
Psychological&
Intelectual
Emotional

Principle of growth and

development

Growth is continuous process that

determine by many factors.
All humans follow the same pattern of
growth and development .
The sequence of each stage is
predictable, although the time of onset,
the length of stage and the effect of
each stage vary with person.

Learning can either help or hinder the

maturation process, depending on what is
learned.
Each developmental stage has its own
characteristics.
Growth and development occur in a
cephalocaudal i.e starting at the head and
moving to the trunk, the leg and feet.
Growth and development become
increasingly different.

Certain stage of growth and

development are more critical than
others.
Growth and development occur in
proximal to the distal direction i.e from
the center of the body outward.