CG - Growth And Development

Question 1

What is Growth?

Answer 1

Growth refers to the quantitative changes in an individual including physical changes in height, weight, size and internal organs. As a child grows, his/her old features like baby fat or milk teeth is replaced with new acquired features like facial hair, new set of teeth, primary and secondary sex characteristics, etc. Similar changes are seen in the personality of the individual. The body starts becoming heavier and there is a steady growth seen from infancy to childhood. Every part of the body has a different growth rate. Thus growth refers to the increase in bodily dimensions.

Definition - “Growth refers to structural and physiological changes” (Crow and Crow 1962)
It is a multiplication of cells and a measurable physical change that occurs throughout a persons life. Old cells die and new cells are acquired.

Question 2

What is Development?

Answer 2

Development refers to the qualitative changes in an Individual which happens simultaneously along with quantitative changes. It is defined as a progressive series of orderly, coherent changes. Progressive means the changes are directional going forward rather than backward. The term orderly and coherent means that there is a definite relationship between the changes and those that precede them. Development occurs in an organism from origin to death but more specifically progressive development occurs from origin to maturity. Thus, development is a series of overall changes in an individual due to the emergence of modified structures and functions that occurs due to the relationship of an individual with its environment.

Development refers to a “progressive series of changes in an orderly, predictable pattern as a result of maturation and experience (Hurlock, 1959)
It forms as a result of the interaction between an individual and the environment.

Question 3

What are the stages of Growth?

Answer 3

The stages of growth are divided into:

1. Prenatal Period - This stage lasts for 9 calendar months or 40 weeks. It is divided into:

• Fertilised egg (ovum)
• Zygote (first 2 weeks)
• Embryo (2 to 8 weeks)
• Foetus (9 to 40 weeks)

2. Post natal period - This is divided into further stages:

• Neo natal: (0-28 days) At this time the child develops respiration and circulation.
• Infancy: (28 days to 1 year) At this time there is rapid growth and development in the child especially for the neuromuscular system.
• Early Childhood (1 to 6 years)
• Late Childhood (6 to 12 years)
• Adolescence (12 to 18 years)
• Early Adulthood (19 to 40 years)
• Middle Adulthood (40 to 65 years)
• Late Adulthood (65 years and above)

Question 4

What are the stages of development?

Answer 4

Development is divided into stages as it is a continuous pattern of predictable changes that happen in an orderly, coherent manner. They are:

• Birth to 2 years : Infancy - There is a certain amount of intellectual growth at this stage. It is marked by rapid growth and development and there are changes in body proportion.
• 2 to 6 years : Early Childhood - This is the pre school or pre gang age. It is the period where the child seeks to gain control over the environment. The social development also starts here.
• 6 to 12 years : Late Childhood - This is the primary school age. Here the child is expected to learn various essential skills and gain important knowledge which is required for a successful future.
• 12 to 18 years : Adolescence - This is the period of physiological changes in the body of the child. Here the child becomes sexually mature and there is intensified social interaction with peers of the same and opposite sex.
• 18 to 40 years : Early Adulthood - This is the crucial period where an individual settles down, chooses a career, chooses a life partner and makes other important life decisions. Goals and aspirations are set in this period.
• 40 to 65 : Middle Adulthood - This period can have an individual feeling like uprooting and dissatisfaction with their life. It can also be called mid life crisis. It brings about certain physical decline like wrinkles and marks the coming of old age. In women, the menopause can cause extreme anxiety and depression.
• 65 and above : Late Adulthood - This marks the onset of aging and can cause the loss of vitality. Retirement can cause individuals to feel meaningless while some develop interests of social service, reading, travelling, financial planning or enjoying nature. These individuals are concerned about their health and death and trips to doctor can be frequent at this stage .

Question 5

What are the characteristics of growth and development?

Answer 5

They are:

1. Development follows a pattern or sequence - cephalocaudal and proximodistal
2. Growth is complex - all things closely linked
3. Development is a continuous process
4. Development and growth happen at different rates
5. Development progresses from general to specific responses.