This document discusses child development and the areas and stages of growth. It defines development as qualitative changes that are progressive, ordered and long-lasting, involving physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual growth. Growth is defined as quantitative physical changes measured by height, weight etc. The main areas of development are also physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual. Development occurs through distinct stages of infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

2. 1. WHAT IS CHILD DEVELOPMENT?
 Child development refers to
the biological and psychological and
emotional changes that occur in human
beings between birth and the end
of adolescence then through adulthood, as
the individual progresses from dependency to
increasing autonomy.

3. 1. DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH
 The term DEVELOPMENT and GROWTH both
refer to two different meanings.

4. a) DEVELOPMENT(qualitative)
 changes in a person’s physical and
behavioural traits that emerge in orderly ways
and last for a reasonable period of time.
 the changes are…
 PROGRESSIVE (results in acquisition of skills
and abilities that are complex,
finer and more efficient.)
 IN ORDER (there is an order in development.)
 LONG LASTING

5.  4 main areas of development:
 Physical (height, strength and weight)
 Emotional (feelings and attitudes)
 Spiritual (believes and religions)
 Intellectual (thinking and understanding)
 Social (interacting with others)

6. b) GROWTH (quantitative)
 refers to physical increase in the size of the
body. (increase in weight, height, etc..)
 refers to a quantitative change (can be
measured)
 there is a change in form and increase in the
complexity of body parts and their functioning,
thinking abilities and social skills.
 Growth is only one aspect of the larger process
of development.

7. c) The main areas of growth and development:
1. Physical (weight, height, muscles, systems,
organs)
2. Emotional (extend trusting relationships to
other adults and to children, show a strong
sense of self as an individual, recognise
feelings, label their own feelings)

8. 3. Social (enjoy playing alongside other
children, but won’t interact a great deal with
them, show awareness of others’ feelings and
might try to give basic help, look to adults for
comfort.)
4. Spiritual (concerns the broad search for
transcendental meaning that may be as
simple as a young child’s inquiries into how
the world came into being)

9. 5. Intellectual
 The Sensorimotor Stage: A period of time between birth and age two
during which an infant's knowledge of the world is limited to his or
her sensory perceptions and motor activities. Behaviors are limited to
simple motor responses caused by sensory stimuli.

The Preoperational Stage: A period between ages two and six during
which a child learns to use language. During this stage, children do
not yet understand concrete logic, cannot mentally manipulate
information and are unable to take the point of view of other people.

The Concrete Operational Stage: A period between ages seven and
eleven during which children gain a better understanding of mental
operations. Children begin thinking logically about concrete events,
but have difficulty understanding abstract or hypothetical concepts.

The Formal Operational Stage: A period between age twelve to
adulthood when people develop the ability to think about abstract
concepts. Skills such as logical thought, deductive reasoning and
systematic planning also emerge during this stage.

10.  The human life span has been divided into
the stages of...
a) Infancy
b) Childhood
c) Adolescence
d) Adulthood

11. a) Infancy – from birth to 2 years of age
 the child is totally dependent on the caregiver
for the fulfilment of her needs.
 the period of the most rapid growth and
development.
 their skills and abilities increase.
b) Childhood – from 2 to 12 years of age
 acquire learning skills that will associated with
schooling.
 learns about numbers, colours, shapes and the
reasons for everyday events.
 thinking develops rapidly and her interest
in the outside world grows by leaps and
bounds.

12. c) Adolescence - from 12 to 18 years of age
 the beginning of this period is marked by
puberty.
 Puberty refers to the stage around 11-14
years of age, when there is a spurt in physical
growth.
 This results in a rapid increase in height and
weight and the emergence of secondary
sexual characteristics (face hair, pubic hair,
sexual organs)
 Conflicts due to peer pressure occur and
there will be needs for emotional adjustment.

13. d) Adulthood – 18 years and above
 the ability to support oneself economically
(getting married, settle down, raise family)
 adulthood typically involves either working or
preparing for one's livelihood.
 physical changes are complete and the person is
mature.

15.  http://psychology.about.com/od/developme
ntalpsychology/ss/early-childhood-
development_3.htm
 Thompson and Randall, retrieved from
http://www.desmos.info/en/doc/Childrens_S
piritual_Development.pdf
 http://www.preservearticles.com/201105206
839/physical-growth-and-development-of-
a-child.html