Concept and Principles of Growth and

Development
Generally Growth and Development are used inter changeable and taken as synonyms terms.
After conception in the womb of mother change occur. change is the law of nature. A fertilized
egg develops as a fetus. Cycle of charge brought about by the process of growth and
development takes place in various dimensions physical, mental, social and so on. Both the
terms, growth and Development can be used for any change brought about in maturation and
learning.

Development of the child is a series of orderly Progression of charge to words Maturity. Orderly
means the arrangement of change. Each charge at each stage is dependent upon what
preceded it affects what will come later. Development does not take place haphazardly. The
term Progressive signifies that changes lead forward and that the direction is towards
adaptation which is conducive to survival of the individual.
Growth is generally taken as dimensional augmentation, cellar, multiplication or qualitative
change in size, weight and number.

CONCEPT
The aim of education is to bring about an all-round development in an individual. It is, therefore,
imperative that the teachers should be acquainted with the meaning and Characteristics of
growth and development. Usually two terms are used interchangeably.

According to L.D. Crow & Crow (1962), growth refers to Structural and physiological changes
and development is concerned with growth as well as those changes in behaviors which result
from environmental situations.

Growth takes place when a child grows taller, his bones, muscles and other parts of the body
increase in size. Maturation is the unfolding of the characteristics with which the individual is
endowed. As the child grows, his mind and body mature and the is able to function at a higher
level.

Development involves a Series of progressive, orderly and meaningful changes leading to the
goals of maturity is attained.

A child or adult may grow very fast, very fat and heavy, but such growth Can hardly be
considered development in the sense of advancement to a higher level of maturity.

Actually a person has developed if he is physically healthier or has more sensors motors Skills
so that his physical conditions is conducive to greater personal effectiveness. Thus by improving
his sensorimotor skills and thereby utilising better the capacities he has received from about two
decades of growth, a person can develop even after physical growth stops. Physical growth is
quantitative in nature and is usually measured in inches and pounds or their equivalents.

Development has four basic elements:

1. Growth
2. Maturation
3. Experiences
4. Social transmission (learning through language, Schooling or training by parents)
their development and learning.
Development, growth and maturation are terms which are commonly used to convey the same
meaning but there is a significant between all these words.

Definition of growth and development

Growth refers to an increase in some quantity over time. The quantity can be:

Physical (e.g., growth in height, growth in an amount of money)

Abstract (e.g., a system becoming more complex, an organism becoming more mature).

Development is used to denote an increase in skill or the ability to function (a qualitative

change)

can measured by the child’s ability to perform tasks, recording the parent’s description of the
child’s progress or by standardized tests such as Denver II

* Psychosexual development

* Psychosocial Development

* Cognitive Development

* Moral Development

Growth
1. Quantitative Concept
2. Change in the quantitative aspect come
into the domain of growth
3. The term growth is used in purely physical
sense referring to an increase in size, length,
height and weight.
4. Growth is one of the parts of
developmental process.
5. Growth described the charge which take
places in, particular aspects of the body and
behaviours of the organism.
6. Growth does not continue throughout life.
7. The change produced by growth are the
Subject of measurement.
8. They may be quantified and are
observable in nature.
9. Growth may or may not bring
development, A child may grow by becoming
fat but this growth many not bring any
functional improvement or development.
BASIC DIVISIONS OF CHILDHOOD
NEONATE First 28 days of life
INFANT 1 month – 1 year
TODDLER 1 – 3 YEARS
Development
1.Quantitative Concept
2. It indicates the charges in the quality or
character rather than in quantitative aspects.
3. Development implies overall Change in
shake, form or structure resulting in an
improved working or function.
4. Development is a wider, and
comprehensive term. It refers to overall
changes in the individual .
5. Development describes the change in the
organism as a whole.
6. Development is a continuous process. It
goes from womb to tomb. It does not end
with the attainment of maturity.
7. Development, as said earlier implies
improvement in functioning and behaviour.
8. They may be qualitative charge which is
difficult to measured directly. They are
assessed through Keen observation in
behavioural situations.
9. Development is also possible without
growth as in the cases of some children who
do not gain in terms of height weight or size
but they do experience functional
improvement or development in physical,
social emotional or intellectual aspects.
PRESCHOOLER 3 – 5 YEARS

SCHOOL AGE 6 – 12 YEARS

ADOLESCENT 13 – 18 YEARS

PRINCIPLES
The change brought about in an individual by the process of growth and development
tend to follow some well defined principles. These are known as principle of growth and
development. These principle are being described below :
(a) Principle of continuity
Development follows continuity. It goes from womb to tomb and never ceases. An individual
starting his life from a tiny cell development his body, mind and other aspects of his personality
through a continuous stream of development in these various dimensions.

(b) Rate of growth and Development is not Uniform

Although development follows continuity yet the rate of growth and development is not steady
and uniform at all time. It proceeds more rapidly in the early years of life but shows down in the
later year of childhood. Again at the onset of puberty, there is sudden rise in the speed of
growth and development but it is not maintained for long. Therefore, at no stage the rate of
growth and development show steadiness. It rather take place but fits and starts.

(d) Uniformity of Pattern

Although development does not proceed at a uniform rate and show marked individual
difference, yet it follows a definite sequence of pattern and is somewhat uniform in the off
springs of a species. For example, the motor development and language development in all
children seem to follows a definite sequence.

(e) Development Proceeds from General to Specific Response

In all Phase of a child’s development, general activity precedes specific activity. His responses
are of a general sort before they become of so specific response as reaching similarly, when a
newborn infant cries, the whole of the body is involved.With growth, the crying is limited to the
vocal cords, eyes etc. In language development the child learns general word before specific.

(f) Principle of Integration

while it is true that development proceeds from general to specific or from whole to parts, it is
also seen that specific response or part movement are combined in the later process of learning
or development. It is the integration of whole and its part as well as of the specific and general
responses that makes a child develop satisfactory in the various dimension of his growth and
development.
(g) Principle of Inter-relation

The growth and development takes place in various dimensions like physical, mental, social etc.
and these are interrelated and interdependent. Growth and development in any one dimension
affects the growth and development of the child in other dimensions as well e.g children with
above average intelligence are generally found to possess above average physical and social
development. The lack of growth is one dimensions. If a child having poor physical development
then it also tend to regress in emotional, social and intellectual development.

(h) Development is Predictable

With the help of the rate of growth and development of a child it is possible for us to predict the
range in with his development is going to fall e.g. X-ray of the bones of the wrist of child will tell
approximately what his ultimate size will be similarly the knowledge of the present mental ability
of a child will help is predicting his ultimate mental development.

(i) Principle of Developmental Direction

Kuppu Swamy has thrown light thrown light on this principle and he points out two specific facts
out two specific facts concerning the direction of development. He say that development is “
cephalic-caudal as well as proximodistal”

As per the principle of cephalic-caudal development, the development, the development

proceeds in the direction of the longitudinal axis, first the child gain control over his head and
arms and then on his leg on that he can stand.

According to the proximodistal tendency of the development, it proceeds from the center to the
periphery. In the beginning child exhibits its control over the large fundamental muscles but
afterward due to growth and development of smaller muscles he can exhibit more movements
that are refined e.g. Central over the arm and the hand.

(j) Development is Spiral and not Linear

The child does not proceed straightly on the path or development with a constant or steady
pace. Actually he makes advancement during a particular period but take rest in the following
period to consolidate his development. In advancing further, therefore, he turn back and then
moves forward again like a spiral.
(k) Growth and Development is a Joint Product Heredity and Environment

Child at any stage of his growth and development is a joint product of heredity and environment.
The forces of heredity and environment directly or indirectly influence his growth and
development in any dimension at all times.

(i) Principle of Uneven Tempo of Growth and Development

Growth and development is continuous yet rate of development is not uniform. At earlier stages
it is quick and slows down in later year of infancy and at the stage of puberty there is sudden
rise in growth and development.

(m) Principal of Unique Development

All children will first sit up crawl and stand before they walk. But the individual children will vary
in regard to time or age at which they can perform these activities.

(n) Principle of Interaction of Maturation and Learning

Growth and development happen as a result of both maturation and learning, maturation refers
to changes in a developing organism due to the unfolding and ripening of abilities,
characteristics, traits and potentialities present at birth, learning denotes the changes in
behavior due to training and/or experience, Maturation and learning interact.

Thus, each child is a changing, growth and developing organisms.