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Ponmalini 1
 Introduction
 Growth & Development
▪ Meaning & Definition
▪ Characteristics
▪ Comparison
▪ Principles
▪ Impact of Nature & Nurture on Child Development

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 INTRODUCTION

 Life starts with the conception in the mother’s

womb
 Womb becomes the place for growth &
development
 New born infant incapable of satisfying
biological needs.
 Organs grow &mature

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 Weight of a baby – 0.004mg (0.1 mm) -
around 3.5kg
 Weight increases 11,00,000 times
 Tiny zygote grows in to a baby of about 50
cm long with a weight of about 2-5 -3.5kg

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 The heaviest baby born to a healthy mother
was a boy weighing 10.2 kg who was born to
Carmelina Fedele (Italy) at Aversa, Italy in
September 1955

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 Giantess Anna Bates measured 241.3 cm (7
ft 11 in), gave birth to a boy weighing 9.98 kg
measuring 71.12 cm (28 in) at her home in
Seville, Ohio, USA, on 19 January 1879

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 GROWTH

 Growth - Physical sense

 Changes in quantitative aspects
 One of the components of the
developmental process

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 MEANING OF GROWTH

 The term “growth” denotes the process of

physical maturation resulting an increase in the
size of the body and various organs. It can be
measured in kg, pounds, meters, inches etc.
 The Encyclopedia of Britannica defines
‘growth’ as an increase in the size or the amount
of an entity.

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 Growth is change in size, in proportion,
disappearance or old features and acquisition
of new ones (Hurlock, 1959).
 Growth refers to structural and
physiological changes (Crow & Crow, 1962).

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 Increase caused by becoming large & heavier
 Quantitative, additive & augment
 Objectively observable & measureable
 May or may not bring development
 Rate of growth is not uniform
 Wide range of individual differences
 Rate of growth of different parts of the body
is different

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 Implies overall changes in shape, form or
structure resulting in improved working or
functioning
 Changes in quality or character
 Result of growth, maturation & learning

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 MEANING OF DEVELOPMENT

 The term “development” specifies

maturation of functions. It can be measured
through observation.

 The Encyclopedia of Britannica defined the

word ‘development’ includes the increase not
only in size but also in the function of an organ.

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 Development means a progressive series of
changes that occur in an orderly predictable
pattern as a result of maturation and
experience (Hurlock, 1959).
 Development is concerned with growth as
well as those changes in behavior results
from environmental situations (Anderson,
J.E, 1950).

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 Directional & sequential
 Continuous
 Results in functioning of the individual
 Complex process
 Individual differences
 Not uniform (may be spiral not linear)
 Maturation & learning
 Stimulating Environment
 Modelling of parents, teachers & others
 Qualitative in nature (through observation)
 Possible even without growth
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S.No GROWTH DEVELOPMENT

1. Quantitative Qualitative
2. Increase in size, cell number etc. Improvement of organs & increase in their
efficiency of functioning.
3. Physical aspects Physical and psychological aspects
4. Observed & measured Keen observation

5. does not continue continues throughout life

6. One aspect of development Complex and multisided

7. Not directional Progressive & sequential

8. Not uniform Not uniform
9. Individual differences Differ in their level of development in
different aspects
10. May or may not lead to Development in one aspect promotes
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development development in other aspects
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT

Growth - physiological change

Development - psychological change.

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IMPORTANCE OF GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT

 Desirable changes and new way of thinking.

 Development is a continuous and non- stop
process at all periods and stages of human life.
 Suggests a pattern or trend for the
advancement of children on the developmental
path.
 Principle of integration helps us to plan the
learning processes and arrange suitable learning
experiences
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 MATURATION
Maturation is the progression of
developmental changes toward the characteristics
of adults.
Physical maturation occurs from the time of
conception, but some of the most commonly
recognized indicators of maturation become
apparent during adolescence.
The cessation of the growth of long bones,
associated with the final attainment of adult
stature is also a maturational event.

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 Growth and maturation are certainly
related, distinguishing between them is
important because some physiological and
hormonal processes affect growth and
maturation differentially.
It is easy to observe that children of the
same size can differ in maturational status.

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 Principle of Continuity
 Principle of individual differences
 Rate of growth & development is not uniform
 Uniformity of pattern
 Development proceeds from general to specific
responses
 Principle of integration
 Principle of inter-relation
 Development is predictable
 Growth * Development = Heredity * Environment
 Growth proceeds from head to trunk, centre to
extremities
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