CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP

This PPT prepared by Teacher Educator from Thiagarajar College of Preceptor-Madurai for B.Ed Trainees.

1. CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP K.Thangavel , Assistant Professor, Thiagarajar College of Preceptors, Madurai-9.

2. Unit - I

3. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Introduction Human life starts with the conception in the mother’s womb as a result of the process of fertilisation of the ovum of the mother by the sperm cell of the father.

4. The mother’s womb then becomes the place for the growth and development of the new life. ‘ Foetus ’ Baby weight increases by 11,00,000 times. Tiny ‘Zygote’ grows into a baby of about 50 cm long with a weight of about 3.5 kg at the time of birth.

5. The neonate or new born infant is small, helpless, ill proportioned, being incapable of satisfying even its biological needs, but is capable of development, given suitable environmental conditions.

6. Growth: Meaning and Definition   The term “growth” denotes the process of physical maturation resulting an increase in the size of the body and various organs. It occurs by multiplication of cells and an increase in intracellular substance. It is quantitative changes of the body. It can be measured in kg, pounds, meters, inches etc.  

7. The Encyclopedia of Britannica defines ‘growth’ as an increase in the size or the amount of an entity. The word growth is used for all those structural and physiological changes that takes place within individual during the process of maturation. Growth is change in size, in proportion, disappearance of old features and acquisition of new ones (Hurlock)

8. Characteristics of growth Growth refers to increase caused by becoming larger and heavier. It is quantitative, additive, augumental . It is objectively observable and measurable. Growth does not continue throughout life; it stops when maturity has been obtained. Growth may or may not bring development.

9. Rate of growth is not uniform. It proceeds more rapidly in the early years of life but slows down in the later years of infancy. At puberty, there is sudden rise in the speed of growth. There exist wide range of individual differences among children with respect to growth. The rate of growth of different parts of the body is different.

10. Development: Meaning and Definition Development means a progressive series of changes that occur in an orderly predictable pattern as a result of maturation and experience. (Hurlock).   Development is concerned with growth as well as those changes in behavior which results from environmental situations (Anderson).

11. Characteristics of development Development is ‘directional’ and ‘sequential’. Development is continuous in all areas of mental activity. It does not stop with puberty as in the case of growth. The goal of development is to enable the individual to adapt to the environment in which he lives. It is a complex process of integrating may structures and functions.

12. Development is of many aspects - Physical - emotional - intellectual - social and - moral Individual differences are seen in the different aspects of development.

13. Rate of development is not uniform throughout the life span of an individual. Development is influenced by maturation and learning. It is very much related to one’s environment. Stimulating environment helps an individual to develop many skills.

14. Since development is qualitative in nature, it can not be measured directly. Development is possible even without growth. Development is spiral and not linear.

15. Comparison between Growth and Development Growth Development Growth is quantitative Development is both quantitative and qualitative. Growth could be objectively observed It is mainly qualitative it can not be measured. Growth does not continue throughout the life span. It stops after maturation is obtained It is continuous in all areas of mental activity; it does not stop after puberty Growth is one aspect of development Development is complex and many sided Growth occurs in different parts of the organism Development describes the changes in the organism as a whole Growth is not directional Development is progressive and sequential

16. Growth Development Rate of growth is not uniform in all parts of the organism Rate of development is also not uniform Individual differences exist in growth among children Children differ in their level of development in different aspects Growth is not affected very much by learning Learning and experience affect development to a very great extent Growth may or may not lead to development Development in one aspect promotes development in other aspects ( among physical, mental, social, emotional and moral).

17. Principles of Growth and Development Principle of continuity starting the life from tiny cell develops body, mind and other aspects of personality Principle of Individual differences Rate of growth and development is not uniform

18. Uniformity of pattern E.g. Child – tilts, swims, sits, stands, walks and runs Development proceeds from general to specific responses Principle of integration (whole-part and part-whole) Principle of inter-relation (dimensions)

19. Development is predictable Growth and development are a joint product of both heredity and environment Growth proceeds from head to trunk, centre to extremities

20. Maturation Maturation is a natural process. It is the growth which takes place within the individual. Maturation is the   process  of  becoming   completely   developed   mentally  or emotionally .

21. Relationship among Maturation, Learning and Environment Development occurs as a result of maturation and experience. Expt. Evidences. W.N.Kellogg and L.A.Kellogg . Infant boy Vs Infant Chimbanzee – The aim of the experiment was to see to what extent, the chimpanzee could be humanised by the human environment. Gesell and Thomson’s Co-twin study.

22. Heredity Heredity is defined as the totality of biologically transmitted factors that influence the structure of the body. Everything the child begets biologically from his parents belongs to heredity. The child inherits the traits and characteristics of his parents and forefathers through ‘Chromosomes’. ‘Genes’ are the real genetic units.

23. Environment The term ‘Environment’ influences belonging to different categories which affect the growth process of the individual making him what he is.

24. Transmission Mechanism of Heredity Fraternal twins Identical twins