Principles of human growth and development..

1. Purshottam , SRF
Department of Social Work,
KUK

2. Growth & Development ?
 Dynamic process
 Interdependent, interrelated process
Growth :
 Is physical change and increase in size.
 It can be measured quantitatively.
 Indicators of growth includes height, weight, bone size, and
dentition.
 Growth rates vary during different stages of growth and
development.
 The growth rate is rapid during the prenatal, neonatal,
infancy and adolescent stages and slows during childhood.
 Physical growth is minimal during adulthood.

3. Development:
 Development is systematic and orderly
change, organisms experience as they live
and either gain or lose abilities.
 Is an increase in the complexity of function
and skill progression.
 It is the capacity and skill of a person to adapt
to the environment.
 Development is the behavioral aspect of
growth

4. The general pattern of growth and
development
1) Physical structure or Physique -
It involves changes in terms of height, weight,
body proportions and general physical appearance.
2)Internal organs –
It involves changes in the functions of glands,
nervous system, digestive, muscular, reproductive
and etc.

5. Principles
A fundamental, primary or
general law or truth from which
others are derived.

6. Principles of Growth and development
1) Continuity
2) Sequentiality
3) Generality to Specificity
4) Differentiality
5) Development proceeds from the head
downward
6) Development proceeds from the centre of the
body outward
7) Development depends on maturation and
learning

7. Principles of Growth and development
8)Development proceeds from the simple to
more complex
9)Growth is a personal matter
10)Growth comes from within
11)Growth has certain characteristics common
at particular stages
12)Growth is gradual and orderly but uneven

8. Continuity
 Growth and Development is a continues process
from conception to death.
 In the early years of life, development consists of
changes that lead the child to maturity not only of
body size and functioning, but also of behaviour.
 Even after maturity has been attained, development
does not end. Changes continue which lead to the
period of life known as old age.
 These changes continue until death ends the life
cycle.

9. Sequentiality
 Every species, whether animal or human, follows a
pattern of development peculiar to it. This pattern in
general is the same for all individuals.
 Social and behavioural scientists increasingly have
come to see development as a relationship between
organism and environment in a transaction or
collaboration.
 Individuals work with and affect their environment,
and in turn the environment works with and affects
them

10. Sequentiality
All children follow a development pattern
with one stage leading to the next.
Ex - Infants stand Before they walk; draw
circles before they make squares

11. Generality to Specificity
 Development proceeds from general to specific. In all
areas of development, general activities always
precedes specific activity.
 For example;
- The fetus moves its whole body but incapable of
making specific responses
-Infants wave their arms randomly. They can make
such specific responses as reaching out for an object
near them.

12. Differentiality
 The tempo of development is not even.
Individuals differ in the rate of growth and
development.
 Boys and girls have different development
rates. Each part of the body has its own
particular rate of growth. Development does
not occur at an even pace.

13. Development proceeds from the
Head downward
 This principle describes the direction of growth and
development.
 The head region starts growth at first, following by which
other organs starts developing.
 The child gains control of the head first, then the arms
and then the legs.
 Infants develop control of the head and face movements
at first two months. In next few months they are able to
lift themselves up by using their arms. Next gain control
over leg and able to crawl, stand, walk, run, jump, climb,
day by day.

14. Development proceeds from
the centre of the body outward
 The spinal cord develops before outer parts of the
body.
 The child’s arms develops before the hands, the hands
and feet develops before the fingers and toes.
 Fingers and toe muscles are the last to develop in
physical development.

15. The directional sequence of development stages
may either be (A) from head to foot, or (B) from
the central axis to the extremities of the body.

16. Development depends on
maturation and learning
 The biological changes occur in sequential order and
give children new abilities.
 Changes in the brain and nervous system account
largely for maturation. And help children to improve in
thinking and motor skills.
 Children must mature to a, certain point before they
can progress to new skills.

17. Development proceeds from the
simple to more complex
 Children use their cognitive and language skills to
reason and solve problems.
 Children at first are able hold the big things by using
both arms, In the next part able to hold things in a
single hand, then only able to pick small objects.
 Children when able to hold pencil, first starts draw
circles then squares then only letters after that the
words.

18.  Each child grows in his own personal manner.
He/she should be permitted to grow at his/her
own rate.
 If we expects too much, he/she may does
even less than he/she is able to do.
Growth is a personal
matter

19. Growth comes from within
 One or surrounding environment can
encourage or can hinder the energy of a child,
but the drive force that pushes a child to grow
is carried inside him.
 Parent or teacher job is to clear the track,
guide the child with loving acceptance and
then relax and enjoy.

20. 11)Growth has certain characteristics
common at particular stages
12)Growth is gradual and orderly but
uneven

24. Growth chart

34. Thank You