Chapter 2 Principles of Human Development

2. Chapter 2Principles of Human Development • There is a set of principles that characterizes the pattern and process of growth and development. • These principles or characteristics describe typical development as a predictable and orderly process; that is, we can predict how most children will develop and that they will develop at the same rate and at about the same time as other children. • Although there are individual differences in children’s personalities, activity levels, and timing of developmental milestones, such as ages and stages, the principles and characteristics of development are universal patterns. • Development is Continuous: • The process of growth and development continues from the conception till the individual reaches maturity. • Development of both physical and mental traits continues gradually until these traits reach their maximum growth. • It goes on continuously throughout life. • Development is Gradual: • It does not come all on a sudden. • It is also cumulative in nature.

3. Development is Sequential: • Development is sequential or orderly. • This pattern in general is the same for all individuals. • e.g. The child crawls before he creeps, stands before he walks and babbles before he talks. • Rate of Development Varies Person to Person: • Rate of development is not uniform. • Individuals differ in the rate of growth and development. • Boys and girls have different development rates. • Each part of the body has its own particular rate of growth. • There are periods of great intensity and equilibrium and there are periods of imbalance.

4. Development Proceeds from General to Specific: • Growth occurs from large muscle movements to more refined (smaller) muscle movements. • In all areas of development, general activity always precedes specific activity. • For example, the fetus moves its whole body but is incapable of making specific responses. • Most Traits are Correlated in Development: • Generally, it is seen that the child whose mental development is above average, is also superior in so many other aspects like health, sociability and special aptitudes. • A Product of Both Heredity and Environment: • Development is influenced by both heredity and environment. • Both are responsible for human growth and development. • Development is Predictable: • The difference in physiological and psychological potentialities can ‘ be predicated by observation and psychological tests

5. G­rowth Disorders • A­ growth disorder is any type of problem in infants, children, or teens that prevents them from meeting realistic expectations of growth. Disorders may include: • Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) • It is a condition refereed to fetal growth has been constrained. • It's defined as birth weight less than the 10th percentile of the international birth weight for gestational age curve small for gestational age, commonly synonymous to IUGR, appropriate for gestational age

13. Failure to thrive FTT • It is a descriptive, non-specific term that encompasses e.g. malaise, weight loss, poor self-care that can be seen in elderly individuals. • The most common definition is weight less than the third to fifth percentile for age on more than one occasion or weight measurements that fall 2 major percentile lines using the standard growth charts. • Kwashiorkor: • A deficiency of protein with low or inadequate supply of calories. • Occurs between 1 – 4 years of age when infant weaned from the breast, once the second child is born.

16. Marasmus: • Is a condition primarily caused by a deficiency in calories and energy. • Marasmus is a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition characterized by energy deficit. A child with marasmus looks emaciated. • Body weight may be reduced to less than 80% of the average weight than corresponds to the height. • Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor occurrence increases after 18 months. The prognosis is better than it is for kwashiorkor. • Dwarfism • Generally refers to a group of genetic disorders characterized by shorter than normal skeletal growth (an adult height of less than 147 cm) . • The majority of children born with this condition have average-sized parents. Abnormal skeletal growth is known as skeletal dysplasia.

23. Patterns of Physical Development Cephalocuodale growth occurs from the head down.Proximodistal growth occurs from the center of the body out. • There are definite and predictable patterns in growth and development that are continuous, orderly, and progressive. These patterns are universal and basic to all human beings. • Cephalocaudal • Direction of growth from head to tail. • According to this pattern, the child gains control of the head first, then the arms, and then the legs. • is most pronounced during the prenatal period, decreases by birth. • It reflects the physical development and maturation of neuromuscular function. • Infants develop control of the head and face movements within the first two months after birth. • Infants start to gain leg con­trol and may be able to crawl, stand, or walk. • Coordi­nation of arms always precedes coordination of legs.

24. Proximodistal • It describes the direction from near to far (midline to periphery). • This means that the spinal cord develops before outer parts of the body. • The infant's, shoulder control precedes mastery of the hands, and feet develop before the fingers and toes. • Finger and toe muscles (used in fine motor dex­terity) are the last to develop in physical development. • Simple to complex: • Large muscle development takes place first leading to more fine muscle and complex abilities later • Infant creeps before stand and stands before walk. Infant babbles before form wards that finally forming sentence.