This document provides an overview of the Unit 1: Human Lifespan Development course. The course explores human growth and development across different life stages, as well as factors that can affect development. It covers physical, intellectual, emotional and social development from infancy through later adulthood. Students will learn about expected life events like education, relationships and retirement, as well as unexpected events. They will also learn about the support available to help people manage life changes. The unit is assessed through an external 60-minute exam consisting of structured questions based on provided information.

1. UNIT 1: HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
BF034943 – Specification – Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate and Extended Certificate
in Health and Social Care – Issue 2 – February 2013 © Pearson Education Limited 2013
43
Unit 1: Human Lifespan Development
Level: 1 and 2
Unit type: Core
Guided learning hours: 30
Assessment type: External
Introduction
How do people grow and develop throughout their lives? How can factors such as
lifestyle choices, relationships and life events affect your growth and development?
This unit provides you with the opportunity to explore how we grow and develop
throughout our lives and to investigate the factors that affect this growth and
development. You will go on to consider how these factors are interrelated.
There are four distinct aspects to human growth and development, usually classified
as physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. These four aspects are
closely related to each other, and a change in one can affect some, or all, of the
other areas.
Life events have an impact on how we grow and develop. People experience many
different types of life events; some are expected and some are unexpected. Being
able to manage and handle these events is an important skill in health and social
care professions. In this unit you will explore the impact of these life events and
the types of support available to help people manage them. Understanding and
recognising the impact of these major life events is an important part of a number
of roles in the health and social care sector.
In this unit, you will gain an understanding of lifespan development, which is
essential when working in health and social care, as you will be able to appreciate
the care needs of individuals at different life stages. This understanding is required
for a wide range of health and social care roles including nursing, social work,
occupational therapy, physiotherapy and dieticians.
Learning aims
In this unit you will:
A explore human growth and development across life stages
B investigate factors that affect human growth and development and how they
are interrelated.

2. UNIT 1: HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
BF034943 – Specification – Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate and Extended Certificate
in Health and Social Care – Issue 2 – February 2013 © Pearson Education Limited 2013
44
Learning aims and unit content
What needs to be learnt
Learning aim A: Explore human growth and development across life stages
Topic A.1 The different life stages people pass through during the life course
● infancy (0–2 years)
● early childhood (3–8 years)
● adolescence (9–18 years)
● early adulthood (19–45 years)
● middle adulthood (46–65 years)
● later adulthood (65+).
Topic A.2 Key aspects of human growth and development at each life stage
Physical development – physical growth and physiological change across the life stages:
● infancy and early childhood – development of gross motor skills and fine motor skills
o definition, common examples of each and activities that promote their
development, the differences between fine and gross motor skills
● adolescence – the main physical changes in puberty
o sexual maturity, growth spurt, primary and secondary sexual characteristics
● early adulthood – physical maturity
● middle adulthood – menopause (description and main effects), ageing process
(hair loss, greying hair, loss of muscle tone)
● later adulthood – ageing process
o hair loss, greying hair, loss of muscle tone, loss of strength, loss of mobility,
loss of fine motor skills, sensory loss.
Intellectual/cognitive development across the life stages – developing thinking and
language skills and common activities that promote them:
● rapid learning in the early years (language, moral development)
● learning and developing new skills including abstract and creative thinking,
problem solving
● memory and recall, effects of old age on memory.
Emotional development across the life stages – developing feelings about self
and others:
● bonding and attachment
● security
● self-image (definition, common reasons for positive and negative self-image)
● self-esteem (definition, common reasons for positive and negative self-esteem)
● contentment.
Social development across the life stages – forming relationships:
● friendship and friendship groupings
● the formation of relationships with others
● independence (activities and events that promote independence, including
performing tasks and activities for self, entering employment, learning to drive).

3. UNIT 1: HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
BF034943 – Specification – Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate and Extended Certificate
in Health and Social Care – Issue 2 – February 2013 © Pearson Education Limited 2013
45
What needs to be learnt
Learning aim B: Investigate factors that affect human growth and
development and how they are interrelated
Topic B.1 Physical factors that affect human growth and development
How the following physical factors can affect human growth and development:
● genetic inheritance (inherited characteristics, disabilities)
● lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, alcohol, smoking, drugs)
● illness and disease (general effects on growth and development).
Topic B.2 Social, cultural and emotional factors that affect human growth
and development
How the following social, cultural and emotional factors can affect human growth
and development:
● influence of play (solitary play/social play)
● culture (effects of religion and spirituality, community influences)
● gender (inequality of employment opportunity and pay, social inequality,
expectations)
● influence of role models
● influence of social isolation.
Topic B.3 Economic factors that affect human growth and development
How the following economic factors can affect human growth and development:
● income/wealth (effects of level of income)
● occupation (type, status, security of income)
● employment/unemployment/not in education, employment or training (effect on
income, social and emotional effects).
Topic B.4 Physical environment factors that affect human growth and
development
How the following physical environmental factors affect human growth and
development:
● housing conditions (effects of poor living conditions)
● pollution (effects on health).
Topic B.5 Psychological factors that affect human growth and development
How the following psychological factors can affect human growth and development:
● relationships with family members including unconditional acceptance
● growing up in care
● friendship patterns and relationship with partner/s (effects on emotional and
social development)
● stress (effects on physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of
individual experiencing stress).
continued

4. UNIT 1: HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
BF034943 – Specification – Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate and Extended Certificate
in Health and Social Care – Issue 2 – February 2013 © Pearson Education Limited 2013
46
What needs to be learnt
Topic B.6 The expected life events that can affect human growth and
development and the positive and negative effects of the events on growth
and development:
● starting, being in and leaving education
● moving house/location
● entering and being in employment
● living with a partner/marriage/civil ceremony
● parenthood
● retirement.
Topic B.7 The unexpected life events that can affect human growth and
development and the effects of the events on personal growth and
development and that of others:
● death of a partner, relative or friend
● accidents and injury, ill health
● exclusion, dropping out of education
● imprisonment
● promotion/redundancy/unemployment.
Topic B.8 Understanding how to manage the changes caused by life events:
● types of support (formal, informal, emotional, physical)
● support offered by people (family, friends, partners, professional carers, including
district nurse and social care worker)
● support offered by community groups, voluntary and faith-based organisations
● managing expectations.

5. UNIT 1: HUMAN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
BF034943 – Specification – Edexcel BTEC Level 1/Level 2 First Certificate and Extended Certificate
in Health and Social Care – Issue 2 – February 2013 © Pearson Education Limited 2013
47
Teacher guidance
Resources
There are no special resources needed for this unit.
Assessment guidance
This unit is assessed externally using a paper-based exam marked by Edexcel.
Examination format
The learner will complete a 60-minute examination worth 50 marks. The paper will
consist of two structured questions, each with sub-sections. They will be based on
background information provided in the examination.
The examination consists of a variety of question types including objective questions,
short-answer questions and one extended writing opportunity.
The learner will need to demonstrate and apply their knowledge and understanding.