Child Psychology

1. Course Title:
Child Development
INSTRUCTOR
DR. SADIA
B.ED (HONS)
FALL , 2020

2. Chapter 01
Introduction to Growth and Development
PART 1.1
OVERVIEW OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

3. Growth
 Growth refers to specific changes
and increase in the child’s size (such
as :height, weight, head
circumference and body mass index).
 These size changes can easily be
measured .

4. Cont.….
 During the first year of infant’s life ,babies can grow 10 inches in length and triple
their birth weight.
 After the first year ,a baby’s growth in length slows to 5 inches a year for the next
two years and continues from age two or three to puberty at a rate of two to three
inches each year.
 A major growth spurt occurs at the time of puberty. Girls generally enter puberty
between ages 8 to 13 years of age. Boys usually enter puberty at ages 10 to15 years
of age

5. Similarities in Growth
 Growth proceeds from the head downward and from the center of the
body outward.
 Children gain control of head and neck first, then the arms and finally
the legs.
 At birth, the brain,heart,and spinal cord are fully functing to support the
infant.
As children grow ,the arm and legs muscles develop followed by the
finger and toe muscles.

6. Difference in Growth
Children differ in their growth. Some children are taller some are shorter. Some
children are smaller ,while others are larger. These differences are completely
normal .Normal growth is supported by good nutrition ,adequate sleep and relevant
exercise. Children do not grow at perfectly steady rates throught childhood. Children
will experience weeks or months of slightly slower growth.
Difference in amount of growth can be source of self-consciousness for some
children. It is important to help the children in your care to understand that these
differences are normal ,that each child is special, and to help children to develop a
sense of self-acceptance.

7. Difference in Development
• Development typically refers to an increase in complexity (a change from simple to
more complex) involves a progression along a continuing pathway on which the
child acquires more refined knowledge, behaviour and skills.
• The sequence is basically the same for all children, however the rates varies.
Development refers to change or growth that occurs in an orderly sequence
,involving physical ,social and emotional development.
• These three main areas of child development involve developmental changes which
take place in a predictable pattern (age related),orderly, but with differences in the
rate or timing of the changes from one person to another.

8. Principles of child development
There are following principles of development
• Development sequence is similar for all
• Development proceeds from general to specific
• Development is continuous
• Developments proceeds a different rate .
• All areas of development are interrelated

9. Periods of Development
 For the purpose of organization and understanding ,we commonly
describe development in terms of periods.
 In the most widely used system of classification, the development
periods are infancy, early childhood, middle and late
childhood,adolescence,early adulthood, middle adulthood and late
adulthood.

10. Periods of Development
1. Infancy
2. Early childhood
3. Middle and Late childhood
4. Adolescence
5. Early adulthood

11. Infancy
 This period extends from birth to 18-
24 months. And called Infant stage
consists of 1 year. It is a time of
extreme dependence on adults.
 Many activities ,such as language
development, symbolic thoughts,
sensorimotor coordination and social
learning are just beginning

12. Early childhood
 This period sometimes called
‘preschool /toddler years. It extends
from the end of infancy to about 5 to
6 years.
 During this period ,children becomes
more self – sufficient .Develop more
school school-readiness skills (Such
as learning to follow instructions and
identify letters) and spend many
hours with peers. Grad 1 typically
marks the end of early childhood.

13. Middle and Late childhood
 Sometime called the elementary -
school years’, extends from about 6 to
11 years of the age Children master
the fundamental skills of reading
,writing and maths at this time.
 Achievement becomes more central
theme of children’s lives and they
increase their self-control. In this
period ,they interact more with the
wider social world beyond their family

14. Adolescence
 This period involves the transition from
childhood to adulthood.
 It begins around ages 10 to 12 and
ends around 18 to 22.
 Adolescence starts with rapid physical
changes ,including gains in height and
weight and the development of sexual
functioning adolescence individuals
more intensely pursue independence
and seek their own identity.
 Their thoughts become more abstract,
logical and idealistic.
 They tend to try new things

15. Early adulthood
 It begins in the late teens or early
twenties and stretches into the thirties.
 It is a time when work and love become
main themes in life.
 Individuals make important career
decisions and usually seeks to have an
intimate relationship through marriage
or a relationship with a significant other.
 Other developmental periods have
been described for older adults, but we
will confine our decision to the periods
most relevant for children’s education
and career