Human beings undergo stages of change from conception to death, including growth and development. Growth is the physical process of becoming larger through cell division and synthesis, influenced by genetics. It is a quantitative process that can be measured. Development is the gradual emergence of more advanced and complex individual capacities through learning and maturation. It is a qualitative and individualized process. While growth and development are distinct processes, they are interconnected as humans change throughout their lifetime.

2. Introduction :
Human beings keep changing all through their life. They change in size, shape,
appearance and also in psychology. This change differs from individual to individual. But
the fundamental pattern of growth and development remain more or less same. Human
being is never static. From conception to death, human beings undergo stages of
changes. The rapid change in size is called growth and the rapid changes in form,
function and behaviour is called development.

3. :
Growth is the physical process of development, particularly the process of becoming
physically larger. It is a quantitative process and can be measured and mostly influenced
by genetics. Growth is the enlargement of a child’s cells. An increase in number and size
of cells as they divide and synthesize new proteins; results in increased size and weights
of the whole or any of its parts. This is known as growth.

5. • Growth depends on inner maturation and
learning.
• Growth of an individual is the product of
interaction between nature and nurture i.e.
between heredity and environment.
• There are always individual differences in the
growth of children.
• It is not feasible to change the rate , amount and
direction of growth except within narrow limit.
• Growth is a quantitative process.
• Growth rate differs age wise.
• Most rapid growth occurs in the early years of
life.
• Growth is a continuous and uninterrupted
process till a certain period.
• Growth usually completes before 20 years, at
least in regard of height.
• Growth proceeds from mass to differential
activity.
• Growth starts earlier in case of girls but last
longer in case of boys.

6. :
Development is integrated overall changes resulting in improved working and better
functioning of individual. It is a qualitative and individualized process. Development
is a gradual change and expansion; advancement from a lower to a more advanced
stage of complexity; the emergence and expansion of complexity; the emergence and
expansion of individual’s capacities through growth, maturation and learning.

7. :
• Development is a life long and continuous process that
begins from the time of conception in mother’s womb
and continues till death.
• Development is the outcome of learning and
maturation.
• Development starts from a generalized to more
specific forms of response.
• Development is not uniform in all individual, so it is an
individualized process.
• Each stage of development has some adjustment
issues known as hazards.
• Different aspects of development are interrelated.
• Development is affected by social and cultural
changes.
• Development depends both on nature and nurture.
• Development is assisted by stimulations.

8. Conclusion :
At the end it can be said growth is limited largely to the structural and
physiological changes within the physical constitution of individual from
the moment of conception till adulthood. Development is concerned with
both growth and innate potentialities of behaviour that are sensitive to
environmental stimulations. Because of the interlocking nature, however it
is not easy to differentiate completely between the meaning of these terms.
The process of growth and development, although not interchangeable, are
inseparable.