Growth And Development (Definitions and Stages)

This blog is an initiative to help students with their two years of  Bachelor of Education curriculum. Along with helping students in important sections of the curricula, here we will also be discussing the important questions asked in MCQs (Multiple Choice Question) in various entrance examinations. So this could also help the aspiring candidates of TET (Teachers Eligibility Test), CTET(Central Teachers Eligibility Test) and even PhD Entrance Examinations on Education where emphasis is put on these topics. In current section, we are dealing with the topic of child psychology which comes from the lesson childhood and growing up.

Growth

Meaning : 

Growth refers to a physical change in individual body and behaviour of an organism generally it refers to an increase in size, length, height and weight.

Definitions :

L.X. CROW and A. CROW (1962) suggest the growth refers to structural and physiological changes, and development is concerned with growth as well as those changes in behaviour which result from environmental situations.

ARNOL GESSEL (1929) defines “growth”, is a function of the organism rather than that of the environment as such. The environment furnishes the foil and the milieu for the manifestation of development, but these manifestations comes from inner compulsion and are primarily organised by inherent inner mechanics and by an intrinsic physiology of development.

Development

Meaning :

Development refers to overall changes in shape, form or structure resulting in improved working or functioning. It indicates the changes in the quality or character rather than in quantitative aspects.

Definitions :

According to Hurlock (1959)- 
“Development means a progressive series of changes that occurs in an orderly predictable pattern as a result of maturation and experience.”

According to J.E. Anderson-“Development does not consist merely of adding inches to one’s height or improving one’s ability. Instead, development is a complex process of integrating many structures and functions.”

Robert M. Liebert, R.W. Poulous and G.S. Marmor (1979)-
“Development refers to a process of change in growth and capability over time, as a function of both maturation and interaction with the environment.”  Thus development includes (i) Growth (ii) Capability (iii) Maturation, and (iv) Interaction with environment.

Harold Stevenson (1968)- 
“Development psychology is concerned with the study of changes in behaviour throughout the life span.”

STAGES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Life’s journey begins with conception in the womb of the mother. The approximate nine month spent in mother’s womb is known as the pre-natal period. A child is said to be born when it (fetus) emerges from the internal environment (womb).  It is called post-natal period. 

Now here we will be jotting down various stages in growth and development of child on the basis of physical, mental, emotional, social and moral development.

Early Childhood (3 - 6 years)

[ A ] Physical Development

• Growth in physical dimension during the period of 3 to 6 years of age is not as accelerated as that experienced in infancy. 
• The child begins to assume the body proportions of an adult. Legs growth is rapid and represent about half one’s total height. The head growth is slow and truck growth is intermediate. 
• Generally the weight of the three year-old male child is about 15 Kg and is 38 inches tall. The girls are a bit higher and shorter. By age of five years the average height for boys is 43 inches and the average weight is 20 Kg. The height and weight are affected by a number of variables such as height of parents, nutrition, and illness, etc.
• In addition to size and weight, the child undergoes other physical and physiological changes. The muscles develop at a very rapid speed harder muscles are far better developed than the small and fine muscles. 
• Physiological changes occur in respiration, heart rate slow down and blood pressure goes up steadily brain is also developed.

[ B ] Cognitive Development / Intellectual Development

The intellectual development of the child accelerated after the age of three because now he begins to explore his social environment and acquires new experiences.

          

Following are the major characteristic of intellectual development.

1. Child begins to form concepts of physical and social reality. By the age of six the child develops perception of size, shape, colour, time and distance, etc. 
2. Memory increases at a very rapid speed. The child can learn by rote memorisation. Creativity develops in children and imagination begins to grow. Thinking and reasoning develop in relation to concrete material. 
3. Span of attention increases from seven minutes to twenty minutes and interest in exploring the environment increases. Child is now able to use Symbols in language, drawing symbolic play and problem solving.

[ C ] Social Development

• A child is born in a social environment where his personality development is shaped in accordance with the term of the society.
• Feeling of autonomy develops in children. They begin to explore their environment independently. Social environment expands beyond home.
• Children of both sexes play together without any discrimination. They actively participate in group games in which physical energy is used such as hide and seek.
• They learn to co-operate with others and make friends on shared interests and similar personality traits.
• Children take interest in fairy tales and animal stories.
• Negativism increases between the years three to six. It is a product of social situation. It is said that the more the child is frustrated by adult interference, the more negativism his behaviour will be.

[ D ] Emotional Development

Emotions play an important role in life and contribute in the personal and social adjustment of the individual provided they are directed into wholesome expression. 

Emotions have the following effects on the developing individual

• Emotions give us energy to face a particular situation in life.
• Emotions work as motivator of our behaviour.
• Emotions add pleasure to our everyday experiences in life.
• Emotions maintain our interest in work.
• Emotions influence our adjustment in the society.
• Emotions serve as a media of communication between individuals and guide the individual to modify in order to confirm to the social standard.

[ E ] Moral Development

• Moral development in the child of age span from 3 years to 6 years has no sense of shame, self discipline or self respect. Rewards and punishments are the chief influence under which his moral development takes place.
• Infant behaviour is mostly instinctive and the impulse to seek food and pleasure is the most dominant.
• In the absence of knowledge, experience and thought, they are satisfied.

Later Childhood (7 - 12 years)

Later childhood is an important phase of life. It is the period which requires proper guidance and counselling by parents and teachers for the adequate adjustment of children in the society.

[ A ] Physical Development

• There is slow increase in weight and height during late childhood. Girls are ahead of boys by two years. Changes are shown in all general proportions of the body. Children are face by diseases at this age. 
• Physiologically, the girls at the age of 11 are full year ahead of the boys. Shedding of milk teeth and growth of permanent teeth changes the appearance of mouth, broadening of the chest and motor skills develop through play. 
• Following are the marked changes:-
• Increased strength
• Increased resistance of fatigue.
• Accuracy and endurance increase in relation to games.

[ B ] Cognitive Development

The following changes in the intellectual development occur during the period of 7 years to twelve years of age.

• The child begins to make clear distinction between himself and outer world. He seeks reality in his environment.
• The concept of natural laws becomes almost fully developed by 12 years of age.
• Learning and Memory become more efficient because the child enters formal schooling.
• Capacity for logical thinking increases. The child becomes increasingly efficient in selecting, developing and applying cognitive operations in relation to concrete objects.
• Courage and loyalty increased.

[ C ] Social Development  

The process of socialisation confines to home and neighbourhood environment in early childhood but at the child enters school his social circle widens. Following are the major changes:-

• It is the period when children form peer group of their own sex and remain outside the home.
• Peer group becomes important agent of socialisation.
• Complaints of disobedience are highest in percentage during this period.
• Children rejects adult standards and circle of friends widens.
• Sex difference becomes sharp. Girls play with girls and boys play with boys. There is a sex difference in play activities.
• Social consciousness develop very rapidly. It is called “gang age”period when the child associates himself with the peer group of the same age who feel and act together. The child shows great loyalty to his gang. He conforms to the stand of his gang.

[ D ] Emotional Development

• Emotions are very important for life. Without emotions life becomes monotonous and dull. The change with the age of child. Following are characteristics of emotional changes during the period.
• Early pattern of emotional expression changes. By the end of late childhood the child learn to control his emotional expression in social situations.
• The emotional responses of the child become less diffuse, random and undifferentiated.
• Emotions are expressed even in the absence of concrete objects
• Emotions are most contagious during childhood, because children are highly suggestible and dependable on others.

[ E ] Moral Development

• The child has his own moral code and is faithful to his own group. 
• His morals are ruled by public opinion, social praise and blame. 
• They show loyalty to the group. Members are inspired by group consciousness which has great moral value.

Adolescence (13 - 19 years)

Adolescence is the most crucial and significant period of an individual’s life. It is the period of rapid revolutionary changes in the individual’s physical, mental, moral, spiritual, sex and social outlooks. The age span from 13 years to 19 years comes under adolescence.

[ A ] Physical Development

Important eternal and internal body changes that take place during adolescence are as under;

• Height:-  The average girl reaches and get mature height between the ages of 16 and 17 and the average boy, at year or so later. Weight also changes as growth takes place.

• Body Proportions:-  The various parts of the body gradually come into proportion.

• Sex Organs :-  Both female and male sex organs reach their mature size in late adolescence.

• Digestive system:-  The stomach becomes longer and less tabular. The intestines grow in length and circumstance. The liver increase in weight.

• Circulatory System:-  The heart grows rapidly. By the age of 17 or 18, it becomes 12 times heavier than it was at birth.

• The respiratory system, endocrine system and body tissues are developed and become mature.

[ B ] Intellectual/Cognitive Development

• The mental development takes place at a very complex level in adolescence.
• Increased ability to generalise facts.
• Increased ability to understand relationship between objects and to solve problems of increasing complexity and difficulty.
• Increased ability to deal with abstract terms.
• Tremendous development of memory and imagination. ability to solve problems of diverse nature. Increased ability to make decisions.

[ C ] Social Development

At this stage social changes are reflected in the influence of peer group, new values in friendship selection, new values in social acceptance and rejection and new values in the selection of headers.

Following are the changes and social development take place in the adolescence period:

• The adolescent usually has two or three close friends.
• Close friends have marked influence on one another.
• Dating grows.
• Close friends may also quarrel occasionally.
• Gang may also be formed and indulge in anti-social behaviour.
• Changes in the area of heterosexual relationship:-  An adolescent begins to prefer he company of the members of the opposite sex.

[ D ] Emotional Development

• Traditionally adolescence has been thought of as a period of height and emotional tension resulting from glandular and other changes. An adolescent comes under social pressures and faces new conditions for which he received little training during childhood.
• Change of roles of the adolescents in home, school and society from dependence to independent role, with great responsibility leads to emotional disturbances.
• Attitude of parents towards adolescents still treating them as children, sometimes results in friction.
• High expectation from the parents, the community and the society contributes to emotional disturbances.
• Difficulty to adjust with the members of opposite sex creates emotional tensions in the adolescents.
• Political, religious and social controversies give to conflicts, in the minds of the adolescents.

[ E ] Moral Development

• Moral development is not a natural endowment of man. It depends, on the nature of the experiences and training to which he is exposed. At home, in the neighbourhood and in the school and in the society at large.
• Adolescent moral character developed from the society and friends.
• The moral and discipline values are created on the basis of family background and various rules and regulations teach from the family.
• School family and peer play a special role in development of moral character.

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