Introduction to Human Development

Learning Objectives:
Differentiate growth from development
Give the importance of growth and development
Identify the principles of growth and development
Recognize the factors that influence growth and development

What is the difference between growth & development?

Growth
-is the progressive increase in the size of a child or parts of a child
-a quantitative increase in size or mass.

Development
is progressive acquisition of various skills (abilities) such as head support, speaking, learning, expressing the feelings and relating with other people


Importance of Growth & Development
The assessment of growth and development is very helpful in finding out the state of health and nutrition of a child. Continuous normal growth and development indicate a good state of health and nutrition of a child. Abnormal growth or growth failure is a symptom of disease. Hence, measurement of growth is an essential component of the physical examination.

Principles of Development

1. Development proceeds from the head downward. This is called the cephalocaudle
principle.

2. Development proceeds from the center of the body outward. This is the principle
of proximodistal development

3. Development depends on maturation and learning. Maturation refers to the
sequential characteristic of biological growth and development.

4. Development proceeds from the simple (concrete) to the more complex.

5. Growth and development is a continuous process.

6. Growth and development proceed from the general to specific.

7. There are individual rates of growth and development.