By Dr. Hoda Abdel Azim

Introduction to human growth and development

Objectives:1. Define growth, development and maturation. 2. Identify types of growth and development. 3. Mention principles of growth and development.4. Identify the patterns of Growth and Development5. Enumerate factors influencing growth, development and maturation through the life span.6. State the developmental age periods.

Introduction to human growth and development

Outlines:1.Types of growth and development.2. Principles of growth and development.3. Factors influencing growth, development and maturation through the life span.4.Patterns of Growth and Development.5. The developmental age periods.

Growth: an increase in number and size of cells as they divide and synthesize new proteins, results in increased size and weight of the whole or any parts of the body. It can be measured in CM. KG

Development: a gradual change and expansion; advancement (progress) from lower to more advanced stages of complexity (increase in skills & capacity of function). Maturation: an increase in competence and adaptability.

Types of growth and developmentA- Types of growth:

1 .Physical such as: weight, height, head and chest

circumferences. 2. Physiologic such as vital signs.

3. Sensation : (vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell

B- Types of development:1. Motor e.g. sitting, walking,

running…..etc.2. Cognitive e.g. intellectual

(reasoning, mental thinking).3. Emotional e.g. love, fear……..etc.4. Social e.g. self concept, friendship,

development sense of trust.

Principles of growth and development:1. Continuous process (each stage depends on the preceding one).2. Have predictable sequences.

3. Not all body parts grow in the same rate at the same time, e.g. during prenatal stage, head grow faster than the other organs, but after birth, the other organs are more rapid in growth than the head.

4. Each child grows in his/her unique and personal way (individual differences).

1. Directional trends: Growth and development proceed in regular, related directions and reflect the physical development and maturation of neuromuscular functions.

The first pattern is Cephalocaudal or head to tail direction. Head

Peripheral

• The second pattern is the Proximodistal, or near to far where growth proceeds from the center or midline of the body to the periphery. Midline of Body periphery.From general to specific (walk before use fingers)

2. Sequential Trends. (normal) Growth and development is a

definite, predictable sequence, with each child normally passing through every stage.

e.g. Children stand before walk. The child babbles then forms words

and finally sentences.

3. Developmental paceProgress not at the same rate.There are periods of accelerated growth

and periods of decelerated growth in both total body growth.

e.g. Rapid growth before and after birth. Slow during early childhood Slow during middle childhood. Increases at the beginning of

adolescence and early adulthood.

4. Sensitive Periods Limited time during the process of

growth when the organism interact with the environment in specific manner.

The quality of interactions during these periods determine whether the effects (beneficial or harmful).

e.g. The first 3 months of prenatal life. A warm relationship with a parent is

fundamental healthy personality ( first year of life).

1.Heredity.2.Sex.3. Race and nationality.4. Environmental factors: A-Prenatal environment. B- Post natal: *external environment

(socio-economic status of the family, child nutrition, climate and season, and child ordinal position in the family

Illness, injury).

Factors Influencing Growth and Development

4 .Hormonal influences, e.g . influence of growth hormone

or thyroid hormones.

5 .Emotions, e.g.• if love is not given, retardation

in growth development can occur.

Factors Influencing Growth and Development cont.,

Developmental age periods

Prenatal periodConception to

birth

Neonatal period

Birth-28 days

Infancy 1 month – 1 year

Early ChildhoodToddler 1-3 years

Early ChildhoodPreschool 3-6 years

Middle Childhoodschool 6-12 years

Later ChildhoodAdolescence 12-18 years

Early adulthood 20-40 years

Late adulthood 40 – 60 years

Older Adulthood and Aging