Human Growth and Development Overview

Human Growth and Development

• Growth is a physical increase in quantity over time. It includes changes in height, weight, body proportions, and general physical appearance. It also encompasses changes in size, proportion, the disappearance of old features, and the acquisition of new ones.

• Growth is a measurable change throughout a person's life. It's the multiplication of cells from fertilization to physical maturity. Growth can be measured in kilograms, pounds, meters, and inches.

• Development is a qualitative change in the organism as a whole. It's a continuous process that includes physical, emotional, and intellectual changes. It's a measure of functional or physiological maturation of the nervous system; showing the accomplishment of mental, emotional, and social abilities, and the changes in intellectual, mental, and emotional skills that occur over time.

• Development is a continuous and gradual process, focused on both growth and environmental influences on behavior (Skinner and Crow & Crow, 1965). It's a process of change in growth and capability over time due to both maturation and interaction with the environment.

Comparison of Growth and Development

• Growth refers to physiological changes. Quantitative changes (like height and weight) don't continue throughout life and stop after maturation. Growth is primarily due to cell multiplication.

• Development encompasses overall changes in the individual, involves changes in an orderly and coherent manner towards maturity, and demonstrates qualitative changes alongside quantitative changes. It continues throughout life, is considered progressive, and is influenced by both maturation and environmental interaction.

Historical Views of Childhood

• Original Sin View: Advocated during the middle ages, this view believed children were born as evil beings. Child rearing focused on providing salvation and removing sin.

• Tabula Rasa View: Proposed by John Locke, this view argued that children are born as blank tablets, and childhood experiences determine adult characteristics. Parents should spend time with their children and help them contribute to society.

• Innate Goodness View: Swiss-born French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau stressed that children are inherently good and should be allowed to grow naturally with minimal parental constraint. Children are considered “noble savages” who develop according to their innate tendencies.

Nature vs. Nurture

• Nature is the concept of inborn biases, meaning children are born with tendencies to respond in certain ways. This is demonstrated in some inborn biases shared among all children (e.g., spoken language, crying, smiling).

• Nurture refers to changes resulting from forces outside the person, such as individual differences, environment, and the combination of both in influencing change.

Nature

• Genes predetermine biological characteristics that are inherited from birth-parents at conception (e.g., intelligence, personality).
• Change is not possible, and people are the way they are.

Nurture

• Environment, experiences, and upbringing influence development.
• Complex forces of the physical and social world that affect biological and psychological experiences before and after birth.

Four Main Types of Human Development

• Physical: Body growth including changes in height and weight.
• Mental: Intellectual development, problem-solving skills.
• Emotional: Feelings and dealing with emotions such as love, hate, joy, fear, and excitement.
• Social: Interactions and relationships with other people.

Principles of Growth and Development

• Development is a continuous process, following a pattern.
• Development proceeds from general to specific responses.
• The rate of development isn't uniform throughout life.
• Most traits are correlated during the developmental process.
• Development is predictable.
• Development results from the interaction between the organism and its environment.
• Development is cumulative.
• Development is application oriented.

Life Stages

• Growth and development begin at birth and end at death.
• Individuals have needs throughout their entire lives.

Periods of Human Development

• Prenatal: Conception to birth
• Infancy: Birth to toddlerhood
• Early Childhood: Toddlerhood to beginning of school
• Middle/Late Childhood: Beginning of school to beginning of puberty
• Adolescence: Puberty to adulthood

Infants and Toddlers (Age 0-3)

• Physical: Rapid growth, especially brain size.
• Mental/Cognitive: Learning through senses, exploring, playing; communication through crying, babbling, and simple sentences.
• Socio-emotional: Seeking trust in others, dependent, developing a sense of self.

Infants and Toddlers (Age 0-3) - Key Health Care Issues

• Communication: Provide security, physical closeness, promote healthy parent-child bonds.
• Health: Keep immunizations/checkups on schedule, provide proper nutrition, sleep, skin care, and oral health, and conduct routine screenings.
• Safety: Ensure a safe environment for exploring, playing, and sleeping.

Infants and Toddlers (Age 0-3) - Examples of Age-Specific Care

• Involve child and parent(s) in care during feeding, diapering, and bathing.
• Provide safe toys and opportunities to play.
• Encourage child to communicate (smile, talk softly).
• Help parent(s) learn about proper child care.

Infancy (Age birth to 2 years)

• Physical: Dramatic and rapid changes (e.g., rolling over, crawling, walking, grasping objects).
• Mental: Responding to hunger, cold, and pain; recognizing surroundings and people.
• Emotional: Showing anger, distrust, happiness, and excitement.
• Social: Self-centeredness, developing to recognize others in their environment. Infancy: Infants are dependent on others for all needs.

Implications of Infancy Stage

• Children should develop good habits through practice and repetition (self-feeding, toilet training, dressing).
• Children should manipulate objects and experiment with form, shape, size, and color.
• Home and family environments should support development.
• Parents' love and affection are needed for emotional stability.
• Children's questions need attention.
• Speech training and stories help language development.
• Unhealthy behaviors should be avoided.
• Avoid pressuring intellectual tasks.

Young Children (Age 4-6)

• Physical: Slower growth rate, improving motor skills (dressing self, toilet trained).
• Mental: Using symbols, improving memory, vivid imagination; demonstrating understanding of fears and likes stories.
• Socio-emotional: Identifying with parents, becoming more independent and sensitive to others' feelings.

Young Children (Age 4-6) - Key Health Care Issues

• Communication: Praise, rewards, clear rules.
• Health: Keeping immunizations/check-ups up to date, promoting good nutrition, hygiene.
• Safety: Encouraging safety habits (e.g., bike helmets, safety belts).

Young Children (Age 4-6) - Examples of Age-Specific Care

• Involving parents and children in care.
• Using toys and games to teach and reduce fear.
• Encouraging communication (asking questions, playing with others, talking about feelings).
• Teaching safety rules.

Early Childhood (Age 3-6)

• Physical: Slower growth than in infancy, muscle coordination (running, climbing, writing, drawing).
• Mental: Verbal growth progressing, short attention span. Learning to recognize letters and words.
• Emotional: Self-awareness, recognizing effect on others; impatience/frustration leading to temper tantrums.
• Social: Self-centered at the beginning, strong attachment to parents; needs for food, shelter, protection, love, and security.

Older Children (Age 7-12)

• Physical: Growth slows until a "spurt" at puberty; muscle coordination.
• Mental: Understanding cause and effect, reading, writing, math skills developing; eager and active learners.
• Socio-emotional: Developing a greater sense of self, focus on school activities and negotiating greater independence.

Older Children (Age 7-12) - Key Health Care Issues

• Communication: Helping children feel competent.
• Health: Keeping immunizations/checkups, healthy habits (nutrition and hygiene).
• Safety: Promoting safety habits.

Older Children (Age 7-12) - Examples of Age-Specific Care

• Allowing children to make some care decisions.
• Building self-esteem by allowing them to help with tasks and recognizing achievements.
• Guiding children in making healthy lifestyle choices.
• Open communication between parents, children, and peers about peer pressure, sexuality, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Late Childhood (Age 6-12)

• Physical: Slow but steady growth; well-developed muscle coordination.
• Mental: Rapid development; focusing on school and developing academic skills (reading, writing, math). Abstract concepts (honesty, loyalty).
• Emotional: Increased independence and self-awareness, less fears, more coping ability.
• Social: More group-oriented, accepting of opinions; following rules and standards; needs for reassurance, parental approval, peer acceptance.

Implications of Childhood Stage

• School, home, and community environments should foster physical development (running, climbing, jumping)
• Teachers and parents should help with developing good habits, values, attitudes, and guide them.
• Effective child-centered teaching methods should be employed (project method, discussions, group activities).
• Fine arts activities are key for emotions and instincts.
• Cultivating self-discipline is essential.

Adolescent (Age 13-18)

• Critical Time: Children develop the ability to understand abstract ideas (higher math, concepts) and develop moral philosophies, including rights and privileges; striving towards a more mature sense of self and their purpose.

Adolescent (Age 13-18) - Healthy Growth and Development

• Physical: Growth spurts, physical maturity (reproduction).
• Mental: Abstract thinking (beyond simple solutions; choosing values).
• Socio-emotional: Developing their own identity; building close relationships; balancing peer and family concerns; concerned about appearances.

Adolescent (Age 13-18) - Key Health Care Issues

• Communication: Acceptance, privacy, teamwork, respect.
• Health: Regular check-ups, promoting sexual responsibility, advising against substance abuse, immunization updates.
• Safety: Discouraging risk-taking (safe driving, violence prevention).

Adolescent (Age 13-18) - Examples of Age-Specific Care

• Treating adolescents more as adults.
• Displaying respect.
• Guiding them in making positive lifestyle choices.
• Open communication between parents, teens, and peers.

Adolescence (Age 12-20)

• Physical: Growth spurts, muscle coordination slows, development of sexual organs and characteristics (puberty), secretion of sex hormones (menstruation in girls, sperm and semen in boys). Changes in body shape and form.
• Mental: Foundation for development has been established, focuses on increasing knowledge, sharpening skills, and accepting responsibility for actions.
• Emotional: Emotional development is often stormy and in conflict; establishing identity and independence; responds to peer group influences.
• Social: Spending less time with family, more with peers; developing a more mature attitude, and behaviors associated with adulthood. Often need reassurance, support, and understanding.