Concept, Meaning and General Principles of Growth and Development

Concept of Growth and Development

Meaning of Growth

• The changes that takes place in any part of the body are known as growth. Like – the increase in height and weight, size of hands and feets increases.
• According to L.K. Frank – “The changes that occur in any physical aspect are known as growth.”
• A child continues to grow physically till the end of adolescence.

Characteristics of Growth

• Growth results into increase and height and weight.
• Growth is quantitative
• Growth has general and same pattern in everyone
• Growth occurs internally.
• Growth is not continuous
• Growth does not have the uniform pace. It experiences changes.
• Growth occurs till some specific period and then it stops
• When height increases, weight decreases
• Physical growth can be seen but mental growth cannot be seen.
• Women have faster growth rate than men

Meaning of Development

• Development is defined as the process of growth or new information or an event. An example of development is the changing of a caterpillar to a butterfly.
• The overall changes that comes about in a child is known as development.
• The child develops new capabilities as a result of development. Development does not imply growth of a particular part of body or change in particular aspect of behavior but it implies the overall changes that comes about in the child.

Definition Of Development

• According to “Webster’s Dictionary” – “Development is the series of change which an organism undergoes in passing from an embryonic state to maturity.”
• According to E.B.  Hurlock, – “Development means a progressive series of changes that occur in orderly predictable pattern ad a result of maturation and experience. “

Characteristics of development

• Development has a definite pattern
• Development is a lifelong process, it never stops.
• Development occurs from general to specific
• Development represent all types of changes
• Development is symbol of qualitative changes
• Development has comprehensive meaning
• The process of growth and development go side by side

Difference Between Growth And Development
 
 

Principles of Growth and Development

1. Principle of continuity – the process of development is lifelong process and it does not stops this process begins in mother’s womb and goes on continuously throughout the life.
2. Principle of sequentiality – process of development takes place in a definite sequence. Example- language development in child occurs within a certain definite sequence.
3. Principle of general to specific– development occurs from general to specific. According to this principle the child Learns initially general behavior then gradually he advances the speciality of that general behavior.
4. Development proceeds from head downward – the development of the human body occurs as a whole. The development of various human personalities occurs simultaneously such as social, mental, physical, emotional development.
5. Principle of Total Development  – the development of the human body occurs as a whole. The development of various human personalities occurs simultaneously such as social, mental, physical, emotional development.
6. Principle of Maturation and learning – maturation affect the growth and development and these affects growth and development affect the learning process.