Growth, Development, and Maturation Definitions Quiz

Definitions

• Growth: Increase in physical size through cell division and protein synthesis, quantitatively measurable in inches, centimeters, pounds, or kilograms.
• Development: Progressive increase in skills and functional capacities, qualitatively measurable through observation of tasks such as fine motor skills.
• Maturation: Qualitative changes in structure or functioning influenced by heredity.

Principles of Growth and Development

• Growth and development are continuous processes.
• Each child has a unique rate of growth and development.
• Synchrony: Different body parts and developmental areas progress at different rates, yet are coordinated and occur simultaneously.
• Interrelation: Growth and development in physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and motor domains are interconnected to fulfill the child's basic physiological needs.
• Competency Orientation: Children's behaviors are aimed at achieving competence in various skills and tasks.
• Development progresses from midline towards the extremities.
• Orderliness: Growth and development occur in an orderly sequence, with each stage building upon previous ones.
• Cephalocaudal Development: Development tends to follow a pattern where control and mastery of skills begin at the head and progress downward to the feet.
• General to Specific: Initially, children perceive stimuli in a generalized manner, but as they develop, they become more adept at distinguishing specific features.

Factors Affecting Growth and Development

• Hereditary factors
• Congenital defects
• Endocrine factors influencing growth
• Environmental factors: nutrition, exposure to diseases, and socioeconomic conditions
• Nutritional factors affecting consumption and utilization of food
• Importance of normal activities for growth
• Impact of illness and injuries, especially during birth

Types of Growth and Development

• Physical growth: Includes weight, height, head, and chest circumferences
• Physiological growth: Involves vital signs and senses
• Cognitive development: Intellectual growth including reasoning
• Emotional development: Formation of emotions like love and fear
• Social development: Development of self-concept, friendships, and senses like trust

Stages of Growth and Development

• Prenatal period: Germinal, embryonic, and fetal periods
• Infancy: Neonatal and infant stages
• Early Childhood: Including toddler and preschool ages
• Middle Childhood: From school age to prepubertal and adolescence
• Adulthood: Young adulthood, adult, and maturity - old age stages

Growth vs. Development

• Growth: Refers to an increase in physical size or any of its parts, measurable in units like kilograms, pounds, meters, or inches, and involves multiplication of cells.
• Development: Increase in functional capacity and specialized tissues, involving functional or physiological maturation of the nervous system, and accomplishment of mental, emotional, and social abilities.

Principles of Growth & Development

• Cephalocaudal direction: Growth starts from the head and progresses downward
• Proximodistal direction: Growth proceeds from the center of the body outward
• General to Specific direction: Development progresses from general abilities to specific skills
• Differentiality: Growth and development occur at varying rates among individuals

Factors Influencing Growth & Development

• Genetic factors
• Prenatal factors
• Postnatal factors: nutrition, childhood illness, environment, culture, socioeconomic status, and more