1.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Lt Col Nirmala Roberts
India

2.
Why study growth & development?

3.
Studying Growth & Development
helps..
 Know what to expect of a particular child at
any age
 Assess child in terms of norms
 Understand behavioural patterns of adults
who care for children
 Guide in terms of more mature forms of
behaviour

4.
Studying Growth & Development
helps..
 Diagnose malnutrition, infections & other
diseases affecting G & D
 Recognize potential problems and strengths
 Assist parents to achieve optimum G & D
 Plan for comprehensive care of the child
 Work with children effectively in health &
disease

5.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
The sum of numerous changes that take place
during the life time of an individual. A
dynamic process with inter related
dimensions.
 Growth
 Development
 Maturation

6.
GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
 Growth – Increase in size or weight of a whole or any of its
parts (quantitative) = Physical maturation
 Development – Emergence/ expansion of individual
capacities through growth, maturation and learning
(qualitative) = Functional maturation
 Maturation – Increase in competence and adaptability -
…to function at a higher level

7.
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT…
Prenatal stage
Conception to
Birth
Early
childhood
1 – 6 years
Infancy
Birth to 12
months
Middle
childhood
6 – 12 years
Later
childhood
11 – 19 years

8.
Prenatal – Conception to birth
Rapid growth rate & total dependence
 Germinal : Conception – 2 weeks
 Embryonic : 2 – 8 weeks
 Fetal : 8 – 40 weeks (birth)

9.
Infancy –Birth to 12 months
Rapid motor, cognitive and social devt.
Develops ‘Trust’
 Neonatal : Birth to 28 days
 Infancy : 29 days to 12 months
’

10.
Early childhood – 1 – 6 years
Intense activity, discovery, physical & personality devt.
Develops ‘Autonomy’ and ‘Initiative’
 Toddler : 1 – 3 years
 Preschooler : 3 – 6 years

11.
Middle childhood
- School age 6 – 12 years
 Physical, mental & social devt, peer relationships,
skill competencies and self concept.
 Develops ‘Industry’

12.
Later childhood -11 – 19 years
Rapid maturation and change, redefining
of self concept.
Develops ‘Identity’
 Prepubertal : 10 – 13 years
 Adolescence : 13 – 18 yearrs

13.
PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT (PATTERNS…TRENDS..)
Basic rule – Every child is unique
- Growth is continuous, orderly & progressive
- Growth is universal and basic to all
 Directional trend – Cephalocaudal, proximodistal, general to
specific
 Sequential trend
 Developmental pace
 Sensitive periods
 Individual differences
 Cycles of behaviour
 Optimal tendency & terminal points
 Inter-relatedness
 Secular trends

14.
PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT (PATTERNS…TRENDS..)
 Directional trend – Cephalocaudal, proximodistal, general to
specific

15.
PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT (PATTERNS…TRENDS..)
 Sequential trend – Follows a definite succession of
achievements in growth and development
 Developmental pace – Velocity of growth is steady after 2 yrs
and then ‘growth spurt’ in adolescence
 Sensitive periods- The period of time when
a child's interests are focused on developing a particular
skill or knowledge area.
 Individual differences – Uniqueness of every child

16.
Cycles of behaviour
 All children cycle in and out of stages of
equilibrium and disequilibrium
18 mo
Stages of Disequilibrium
Stages of Equilibrium
5½ yr 11 yr
2½ yr 9 yr
3½ yr 4½ yr 7 yr
5 yr 10 yr
2 yr 8 yr
3 yr 4 yr 6½ yr

17.
PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT (PATTERNS…TRENDS..)
 Optimal tendency & terminal points – The ideal
and finest achievement in growth &
development…and end points of growth
 Inter-relatedness – Of various dimensions of
growth
 Secular trends – Worldwide trend in growth and
development

18.
General
GENERAL PATTERNS OF GROWTH
120
140
160
180
200
100
80
60
40
4 8 12 20
18
0
20
Lymphoid
Neural
Genital
Growth %
Age in years

19.
Factors affecting Growth and
Development
Play & activity
Illnesses
Nutrition
Heredity
Socio economic
Environment
Seasons/ O2 conc
Socio-psychologic
Neuro endocrine
Familial influence