After completing this class, students will be able to differentiate between growth and development, describe principles of growth and development, and list factors that influence it. Growth is a physical change in size, while development is an increase in complexity of function and skills. Development is influenced by maturation, environment, genetics, and occurs sequentially in a head-to-toe and center-to-extremities pattern. Factors like nutrition, family, health, culture and temperament also influence growth and development from conception through the lifespan.
2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this class, you will be
able to:
1. Differentiate between the terms growth
and development.
2. Describe essential principles related to
growth and development.
3. List factors that influence growth and
development.
3. Why we study human growth &
development
Nurses need to be knowledgeable about the
characteristics and needs of the age groups with which
nurses come into contact in order to
perform accurate health assessment
Description normal growth & development, individual
differences
Explanation typical and individually different
development
provide health promotion throughout the life span to
optimization positive development & prevention difficulties
ensures safe and effective age-specific client care.
4. What is growth & development
Growth is physical change and increase in
number and size of cells.
It can be measured quantitatively.
Indicators of growth include: height, weight, bone
size, and dentition.
The pattern of physiological growth is similar for all
people. However, growth rates vary during different
stages of growth and development.
(rapid during the prenatal, neonatal, infancy, and adolescent stages
and slows during childhood & minimal during adulthood).
5. What is growth & development
Development is an increase in the
complexity of function and skill
progression.
Development is an increase of capacity and skill of
a person through growth , maturation and learning
in order to adapt to the environment.
Development is the behavioral aspect of growth
(e.g., a person develops the ability to walk, talk,
and think).
6. Development
Maturation is :
The physical change in the complexity of body
structures resulting in final differentiation or
refinement in the functioning of cells
An increase in competence and adaptability of human
being capacities
A qualitative changes
7. Development
Learning: involves changes in behavior that occur
as a result of maturation and experiences with
environment.
Experience: Stimuli in the surrounding that modify
developmental characteristics through the learning
Adaptation: interplay between individual and
environment
8. growth & development
Growth and development are independent,
interrelated processes.
For example, an infant’s muscles, bones, and
nervous system must grow to a certain point
before the infant is able to walk, or talk.
Growth generally takes place during the first 20
years of life; development takes place during
that time and also continues after that point.
There are Principles of growth and
development see Box 20–1.
9. Principles of Growth and Development
Growth and development are continuous,
orderly, sequential processes influenced by
maturational, environmental, and genetic factors.
All humans follow the same pattern of growth
and development.
The sequence of each stage is predictable,
although the time of onset, the length of the stage,
and the effects of each stage vary with the person.
Each developmental stage has its own
characteristics .
10. Principles of Growth and Development
Growth and development
occur in a cephalocaudal
direction, that is, starting at
the head and moving to the
trunk, the legs, and the feet.
This pattern is obvious at birth,
when the head of the infant is
disproportionately large.
11. Principles of Growth and Development
Growth and development
occur in a proximodistal
direction, that is, from the
center of the body outward.
For example, infants can roll
over before they can grasp an
object with the thumb and
second finger.
12. Principles of Growth and Development
Development proceeds from simple to complex,
or from single acts to integrated acts.
Development becomes increasingly
differentiated. Differentiated development begins
with a generalized response and progresses to a
skilled specific response.
13. Principles of Growth and Development
Certain stages of growth and development are
more critical than others. (the first 10 to 12 weeks after
conception are critical).
The pace of growth and development is uneven.
growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous (uneven) development is
demonstrated by rapid growth of the head during
infancy and the extremities at puberty. Growth
spurts
14. Factors Influencing Growth
and Development
Genetics
The genetic inheritance of an individual is established at
conception which remains unchanged such as eye color and
potential height
Temperament
Temperament is the way individuals respond to their external
and internal environment. Temperament may persist
throughout the life span
Family
The family is the major constant in a child’s life. Families are
involved in their children’s physical and psychological
wellbeing and development.
15. Factors Influencing Growth
and Development
Nutrition
Adequate nutrition is an essential component of growth and
development.
Environment
environmental factors that can influence growth and development
include living conditions of the child (e.g., homelessness), socioeconomic
status (e.g., poor versus financially
Health
Illness, injury, or congenital conditions can affect growth and
development.
Culture
cultural customs, nutritional practices & child-rearing practices can
influence a child’s growth and development.
16. Domains of Growth
and Development
Biophysical domain: body systems, motor skills, sensory skills,
genetics
Cognitive domain: perception, analyzing, language, thinking,
memory, problem solving, creativity, and moral decision
Affective domain : feelings, self-esteem, emotions, identity,
self-confidence
Social domain : relationships, communication, roles, social
identity, social adaptation
Moral/Spiritual domain : commitments, ethics, faith,
purpose in life, integrity, meaning of life, hope.
17. Stages of Growth and Development
Stage Age Growth &
Development
Pre-emboryonic 0- 3 wks of gestation
Rapid pace of growth and
development
Emboryonic 4 – 8 wks of gestation
Fetal 9 – 40 wks of gestation
Neonate Birth to one month
Infancy 1 – 12 months
Toddlerhood 1-3 years
Slow pace of growth
and development until
puberty
Preschool 3-6 years
School age 6-12 years
18. Stages of Growth and Development
Stage Age
Adolescence 12-20 years Rapid pace of growth and
development from
puberty to 15 yrs
Young adulthood 20-40 years Decline of growth and
development from 16 yrs
to 24 yrs
Middle adulthood 40-65 years
Old adulthood
Young old 65-74 years
Middle old 75-84 years
Old-old 85 and older
19. Conception of Age
Chronological age : Number of years since birth
Biological age: Age in terms of physical health
Psychological age: Adaptive capacity compared to
others of the same chronological age
Social age: Social roles and expectations relative to
chronological age
Editor's Notes
Growth spurts (rapid increase in Growth Rate)
There is an optimal time for initiation of experiences or learning
Neonatal reflexes must be lost before development can proceed
A great deal of skills are learned by practice
mastery of developmental tasks is not permanent & do not always correlate with chronologic age
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.
Development becomes increasingly differentiated.
Differentiated development begins with a generalized
response and progresses to a skilled specific response. For
example, an infant’s initial response to a stimulus involves
the total body; a 5-year-old child can respond more
specifically with laughter or fear.
■ Certain stages of growth and development are more critical
than others. It is known, for example, that the first 10 to
12 weeks after conception are critical. The incidence of
congenital anomalies as a result of exposure to certain
viruses, chemicals, or drugs is greater during this stage
than others.
■ The pace of growth and development is uneven. It is
known that growth is greater during infancy than during
childhood. Asynchronous development is demonstrated by
rapid growth of the head during infancy and the extremities
at puberty.