Growth and development are based on certain principles. Development of all the children depends upon these principles though the individual differences play an important role.

1. Development has a specific pattern.

Development of the child follows a specific pattern:

(a) Cephalelocandal direction

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Deve­lopment starts from head and progresses towards feet. In womb, the head of the foetus develops first then the body and afterwards legs develop.

(b) Proximo-distal direction

Develop­ment starts from centre to outside of the body, e.g., first organs like heart and stomach develop then shoulders and arms start to develop.

In motor development, this sequence can be seen, e.g., the child first learns to sit then stand and finally learns to walk, though time of mastering these activities can differ in different children but the developmental pattern is specific.

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2. Development is a continuous pro­cess

From the time of conception the developmental processes begin and continue till the death of the person. Sometimes it is not visible but it takes place in the body. The child grows in the womb of the mother, and this process continues after the birth also. Many changes take place one after another in the child.

3. Development is from general to specific

The development of the child is distinct from general to specific. For example, the child first tries to reach a thing by pushing his whole body, but afterwards uses his hands. When his muscles become strong he learns to use his fingers and thumb to hold things.

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4. Different rate of development for different parts

Different body organs and faculties develop at different speeds, e.g., brain development is completed till 8 years, while intelligence develops till 16 years of age. Heart, digestive system, legs and arms are developed till adolescence period.

5. Individual difference is found in development

Every individual is unique. Developmental process is same but at the same time its pace is different in different individuals. Children who are fast in physical and mental development, their other developments also occur rapidly. The children who are mentally slow remain slow in other developmental aspects. Children of same age differ in the rate of their development.

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6. Every stage has its own charac­teristics

The developmental span has been divided into various stages. These stages have their own special characteristics, e.g. prenatal period and babyhood are known for the fast physical development of the child while adolescence is characterised for sexual development and social development.

During childhood children develop proximity with the children of same sex while early adolescence sees a change in their preferences for opposite sex friends.

So we see the certain typical behaviour patterns in each and every stage which are not found in other stages.

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7. Every child passes through each stage of development

Due to the specific and systematic pattern of development the child passes through every stage. It never happens that the child jumps over a stage to reach another.

8. Every child reaches his maximum stage of development

Every child has a different rate of development but reaches the optimum limit of his own development sooner or later. Many factors are involved in this process like nutrition, proper guidance, encouragement, etc. There are certain factors which hinder the process of development like malnutrition, bad company, unhygienic conditions, lack of motivation, etc.

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9. The order of development depends upon sex motives

According to ‘Freud’ the development of the child depends upon sex motives. During different stages sex desire is concentrated on different organs of the body. These are as follows:

(i) Narcisstic stage

This stage starts from birth and lasts till 2 years. It is the first stage in which the baby loves only himself. It is further divided into two stages:

(a) Oral stage

(b) Anal stage

(ii) Oedipus complex

This starts from the age of 3 years. In this stage, children are attracted towards the parent of opposite sex like son attached to mother and daughter to father.

(iii) Homosexual stage

This is the stage of late childhood when the children are attracted towards the same sex members. For them, their approval is very important.

(iv) Heterosexual stage

This is the stage of early adolescence when children start getting attracted to opposite sex members. They mould themselves in order to get approval of their opposite sex peers.

There are many factors which affect the development of the child. These are as follows:

1. Heredity

2. Environment

3. Health

4. Nutrition

5. School

6. Neighbourhood

7. Maturation

8. Learning

9. Economic status

10. Family circumstances

Development of the child is divided into various stages. According to ‘Hurlock’ these are the various stages:

(i) Prenatal period-from the formation of zygote till birth.

(ii) Infancy-from birth till 2 weeks.

(iii) Babyhood-2 weeks to 2 years.

(iv) Childhood-2 to 12 years.

(a) Early childhood-2 to 6 years.

(b) Late childhood-6 to 12 years.

(v) Adolescence-12 to 21 years Early adolescence-12 to 16 years Late adolescence-16 to 21 years or till it matures.

(vi) Adulthood-21 to 65 years

Early adulthood-21 to 25 years Middle adulthood -26 to 45 years Last adulthood-46 to 65 years

(vii) Old age-65 years tills death.

In ensuing lessons we will study various developments of the child. Every stage has its important developmental tasks. By seeing this, level of development can be measured. The development of a child can be accessed on the basis of how many tasks he has completed. Such tasks are called “developmental tasks”.

According to Havighurst, “These are the tasks which should be completed at the onset of a developmental stage or during a develop­mental stage. By completing these person feels happy and successful in air development. If the person is not complete these tasks, he feels unhapped unsuccessful in achieving further mints.

Development of the child depend these developmental tasks they depend hereditary and environmental factors.