GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

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