Basic Principles in growth and development

University of Kirkuk By: Dr. Bestoon Ahmed College of nursing Dr. Yousif Salih 2019-2020 / 3rd class 1st Lecture

Human Growth and Development

Growth: refers to the continuous adjustment in the physiological size of the child, and it

is an increase in the size of the child’s body, including height, weight, and growth of

bones and internal organs .

Development: is the ongoing process of adapting throughout the life span, and It is an

evolving acquisition of skills and functioning .

Basic Principles in growth and development

As children grow and develop, they progress in a predictable and orderly sequence

through the various stages within a certain time frame. Regardless of the rate of growth

and development, some basic principles apply:

Cephalocaudal: is maturation that progresses from the head to the toes. For example,

in physical development, the infant’s head grows first in comparison with the rest of the

body. Developmentally, the infant gains control of her head and neck, rolls over, crawls,

sits up, stands, and then walks.

Proximodistal: is the direction of maturation from the midline to the periphery. For

example, the torso of the body develops before the arms and legs. Development proceeds

to the hands and feet first and then to the fingers and toes.

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Developmental goal for age periods

Prenatal period: - conception to birth

Germinal: conception to approximately 2 weeks

Embryonic: 2 to 8 weeks

Fetal: 8 to 40 weeks (birth)

Infancy period: - birth to 12 months

Neonatal: birth to 27 or 28 days

Infancy: 1 to approximately 12 months

Developmental Goal: Maintain trust

Early childhood: - 1 to 6 years

Toddler: 1 to 3 years

Developmental Goal: Maintain Autonomy

Early childhood: - 1 to 6 years

Preschool: 3 to 6 years

Developmental Goal: Imagination

Middle childhood: - 6 to 11 or 12 years (School Age)

Developmental Goal: Maintain Industry

Later childhood: - 11 to 19 years

Prepubertal: 10 to 13 years

Adolescence: 13 to approximately 18 years

Developmental Goal: Preserve Identity

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Aspects of Growth and Development

Several other important aspects of growth and development are as follows:

Cognitive: having adequate mental functions such as the ability to think, reason, and

remember.

Fine motor: having control of the small muscles to perform such tasks as holding a

spoon or picking up a piece of cereal between the thumb and finger (pincer grasp).

Gross motor: having control of the large muscles to perform such tasks as controlling

the head, sitting up, and walking.

Language: using spoken or written words or symbols by being able to talk and be

understood, as well as understanding what other people say.

Sensory: using the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling.

Psychosocial: developing personality, judgment, and temperament and having the

ability to interact with other people, including playing and building relationships.

Spiritual: having an awareness about a spiritual presence beyond oneself.

How Play Influences Growth and Development

Play has a crucial role in children’s optimal growth and development. Play also is an

important part of learning for children from infancy through adolescence. Children

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progress from the beginning levels of play to more sophisticated levels of play as they

grow and change.

Common types of play include the following:

Unoccupied play (infant): The child is fairly stationary and performs random

movements with no apparent purpose.

Solitary play (infant): The child plays alone, without noticing others around her.

Onlooker play (infant and toddler): The child observes others play around her

but does not join in; she may or may not alter her own play based on what she observes.

Parallel play (toddler): The child plays with the same toys as another child but is

not yet actively engaging with her in play.

Associative play (preschooler): The child becomes interested in another child and

plays with her. This is the first time that the child engages in social interaction while she

plays.

Cooperative play (school-age child): The child’s play becomes more formal.

When children play, they assume designated roles, have rules, and learn to rely on one

another for the play to continue.

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An accurate measurement of height, weight, and head circumferenceshould be obtained at every health supervision visit.

Weight1. Weight loss in first few days: 5%-10% of birth weight2. Return to birth weight: 7-10 days of age Double birth weight: 4-5 mo Triple birth weight: 1 yr Quadruple birth weight: 2 yr3. Average weights: 3.5 kg at birth 10 kg at 1 yr 20 kg at 5 yr 30 kg at 10 yr4. Daily weight gain: 20-30 g for first 3-4 mo 15-20 g for rest of the first yr5. Average annual weight gain: 5 lb between 2 yr and puberty (spurts and plateaus may occur)Height

1. Average length: 20 inches at birth, 30 inches at 1 yr

2. At age 3 yr, the average child is 3 ft tall

3. At age 4 yr, the average child is 40 in tall (double birth length)

4. Average annual height increase: 2-3 inches between age 4 yr and puberty

Head Circumference (HC)

1. Average HC: 35 cm at birth (13.5 inches)

2. HC increases: 1 cm/mo for first yr (2 cm/mo for first 3 mo, then slower); 10 cm for rest of life

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Basic Principles in growth and development

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