GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
—Growth
and development is one of the important subject of psychology.
— It is
essential for every teacher and parents know the fundamentals of growth and
development.
—Good,
effective teaching and guidance depend on the study of growth and development.
— Effective
learning takes place when learning situations are arranged in accordance with
the growth and development.
Growth
—Growth
means an increase in size, height, weight, length, etc. which can be measured.
Development
—Development
implies changes in shape, form or structure resulting in improved working. It
implies qualitative changes.
PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The principles of growth
and development are:
Development follows a pattern:
—The
process of development is gradual and regular.
—A
particular pattern of development is there. For example, a child can stand before he walks.
Development proceeds from general to specific responses:
— The child
first shows general responses.Then gradually he gives specific
response to specific stimuli.
— The
child moves his whole hand instead of one finger to indicate something.
Development is a
continuous process:
—Growth
continues from the moments of conception until the individual reaches maturity.
It takes place at slow regular pace rather than by ‘leaps and bounds’.
Development is a life-long process.
—Growth is not uniform
Different
parts of the body grow at different rates.All parts of
the body can never grow at the same rate.
Growth and development
are product of heredity and environment
Different aspects of
growth develop at different rates
—Neither
all parts of the body grow at the same rate nor do all aspects of mental growth
proceed equally. They reach maturity at different times.
Development is a
product of Maturation and Learning
Most traits are correlated in development:
—Generally,
it is seen that the child whose intellectual development is above average is so
in health size, sociability and special aptitudes.
Growth and development
are complex:
—Both
growth and development are complex process.The child’s
mental development is intimately related to his physical growth and its needs.
Growth is a product of the interaction of the organism and
environment:
—Among the
environmental factors one can mention nutrition, climate the conditions in the
home, the type of social organization in which individual moves and lives.
There are wide individual differences in growth:
—Individual
differences in growth are caused by differences in heredity and environment.
Growth is both quantitative and qualitative:
—These two
aspects are inseparable. The child not only grows in ‘size’; he grows up or
matures in structure and function too.
Development is predictable:
—It is
possible for us to predict at an early age the range within which the mature
development of the child is likely to fall. But mental development cannot be
predicted with the same degree of accuracy.
FACTORS
AFFECTING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
Factors affecting growth and development are:
—Heredity
—Environment
—Gender
—Nutrition
—Disease
—Ethinicity
—Exercise
—Hormones
—Education
—Family status of the
child
—Position of child in
the family
—House conditions
