Human Growth and Development

Terms

• Child Development: The study of a child from conception to age 18– The Five Stages of Development are:

• Infancy: birth to 12 months• Toddler: 12 months to 3 years• Preschool: 3 years to 6 years• School age: 6 years to 12 years• Adolescents: 13 years to 18 years

• Growth: A child’s physical increase in size or amount is easily observed

• Development: The ability of a child to do things that are complex and difficult

Laws of Growth and Development

• Growth proceeds from head to foot (Cephalo=head, Caudal=tail): lift head, pick up objects, walk to objects

• Growth proceeds from near to far (proximal-distal) from body trunk outward: scoot body, wave arms, pick up objects

• Growth proceeds from simple to the complex: sleeping, being fed, holding the bottle, feeding self

• Growth is continuous and orderly: both legs grow at the same time and rate

Areas of Growth and Development

• Physical

• Social

• Emotional

• Moral

• Intellectual (cognitive)

Characteristics of Human Growth and Development

• Similar in all humans: babies all over the world follow the same pattern of development. Ex. Babbling, language imitation, …

• Sequential: Earlier development is necessary before new development: lifting head, rolling over, standing, walking

• Individualized:Every child develops at their own pace• Interrelated: all areas of development work together

and and reinforce each other• Continuous: We continue to grow and learn

throughout life

The 5 Areas of Growth and Development

• Physical – Growth of body tissues– Bones, muscles, organs, and body systems

generally become bigger and more able to perform complex actions

– Fine motor skills, based on the growth of small muscles, and gross motor skills, based on the growth of large muscles, becomes more sophisticated

– Human contact, nutrition, hygiene, exercise and rest contribute to healthy growth and development

• Social– Progresses from being completely self-centered

and dependant to becoming an independent adult– Learn to behave in socially acceptable ways– Mature social skills develop: make and keep

friends, intimate relationships, getting along with others, leadership, individual and team work

– These skills are built on self-confidence, co-operation, and a sense of trust, which states with a secure and loving relationship with caregivers

• Emotional Development– Developing positive feelings about oneself, family,

friends, other individuals, and the world– There are three different temperaments

• Sensitive: react intensely to their environment and cry easily

• Placid: children are easygoing and more content• Aggressive: respond to and interact with their

environment more vigorously and are more wakeful

– Caregivers need to respond with warmth and be supportive regardless of their temperament

• Moral– The development of right and wrong– Developing the conscience - thoughts, feelings,

and behaviors– Concepts of justice, rights and responsibilities, and

fairness– Caregivers influence this development through

their example, explanations of, and attitude toward ethical and unethical behavior

– Children learn to tell the truth if they are certain their parents are always truthful

• Intellectual – Cognitive science - the study of how we learn– Learning depends on brain growth as well as

stimulation of the brain and central nervous system by the 5 senses

– Learning to communicate, think, be creative, focus their attention, solve problems, and make judgements

– The earliest years are crucial– Children need supportive, warm, nurturing, and

sensitive interactions

Questions

• What is human growth and development?

• Describe and give examples of the five ways in which human beings grow and develop

• Explain why knowledge of human growth and develop is valuable for all adults?

The Role of Nurture in Human Development

• Healthy and positive human development depends on nurturing relationships

• 3 Key elements of a nurturing relationship• The nature of these change based on age/needs

– Comfort: acknowledge a child’s discomfort and offer an appropriate response: rocking and soothing for infants, calming words for an older child

– Play: Exercises a growing mind and body and provides ways to express emotions, develop social abilities, and moral thinking - also builds the relationship with caregivers

– Teach: the know-how to accomplish tasks - how to go up and down stairs safely, or teach an adolescent how to calmly re-start a stalled car

• Ex. Of all 3 at work– A trip to the zoo may teach the names of

the animals, play a game by imitating the sounds of the geese, and offer comfort when a goat frightens the child…

– Chart of Functional Milestones

Questions

• In your opinion, is one area of growth and development more important than others? Explain

• Which area of development is easiest to identify in children? Explain

• Describe a parent-child activity for any age level in which a parent uses all the comfort, play and teach elements appropriately for the child’s age level.