This document discusses principles and factors affecting child growth and development. It defines growth as a quantitative increase in size while development refers to functional and qualitative maturation. Growth and development are continuous, orderly processes that proceed in stages from head to tail and center to periphery. They are influenced by genetic, prenatal, and postnatal factors such as nutrition, environment, socioeconomic status, and hormones. The document outlines the common stages of development from neonate to adulthood.

1. M R . P R A T H E E S H P T
L E C T U R E R , C H I R A Y U C O L L E G E O F N U R S I N G , B H O P A L
Subject: Child Health Nursing
Topic- Principles and Factors affecting
Growth and development

2. Objectives
 To learn what to expect from a particular child at a
particular age.
 To assess the normal growth and development of
children.
 To detect the deviations from normal growth and
development.
 To ascertain the needs of the child according to the
levels of growth and development.

3. Introduction
 The process of growth and development starts before
the baby born, i.e. from the conception in the
mother’s womb. The period extends throughout the
lifecycle. But the principal changes occurs from the
conception to the end of adolescence. Growth and
development are closely interrelated. Each child has
individualized pattern of growth and development.
Promotion of child health and care of children
depend upon understanding of growth and
development.

4. Growth
 Normal growth from birth to adulthood is
characterized by certain general observations that
have been found to be true for all healthy children.
 It is the process of physical maturation resulting an
increase in 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 which can be measured in inches/
centimeters and pounds/kilograms. It is progressive
and measurable phenomenon.

5. Development
 Development refers to a gradual growth and change
from a lower stage to a more advanced state of
complexity. It is the increasing capacity of children
to use their bodies. Growth and development are
interrelated. They go band in hand: growth having to
do with its function. The extent of development is the
ultimate degree of achievement and depends on
genetic inheritance, adequate nutrition, normal
hormonal activity and a favorable emotional
environment. It involves expansion of child
capacities through growth maturation and
progressive gain in functional ability.

6. Cont..
 It is the process of functional and physiological
maturation of the individual. It is progressive
increase in skill and capacity to function. It is related
to maturation and myelination of the nervous
system. It includes psychological emotional and
social changes. It is qualitative aspect of maturation
and difficult to measure. It is orderly, not haphazard
and having direct relation between each stage and
the next.

7. Maturation
 Maturation is the total process by which a child
grows and develops according to individual inherited
patterns of physical mental and emotional potential.
Maturity means full or compete growth. Physical
maturity is normally complete by 20-15 years of age.
It is generally expected that a certain level of
emotional maturity will have been attained by the
age of about 25 years.

8. Cont..
 It is an increase in competence and change in
behavior and ability to function at a higher level
depending upon the genetic inheritance.

9. Principles of growth and developmennt
 Growth and development is continuous and orderly
process with individual difference and is unique to
each child.
 It proceeds by stage and its sequence is predictable
same in all children but there may be difference in
the time of achievement.
 There is co-ordinaion between increase in size and
maturation

10. Cont..
 They proceed in cephalocaudal (i.e. from the head
down to the tail) and proximodistal (i.e. from the
center or midline to the periphery) direction.
 Initial mass activities and movements are replaced
by specific response or actions by the complex
process of individualized changes.

11. Cont..
 Rate of growth and development is interrelated and
rapid in infancy and in puberty but slow in preschool
and school age.
 Growth and development depends on combination of
many interdependent factors especially by heredity
and environment.

12. Stages of Growth and Development
 Child’s growth and development are commonly
classified into seven stages based on a
consideration of the physical emotional,
intellectual and social maturity of the child.

13. Stages of Growth and Development
Age
Birth to 28 days Neonate
28 days to 1 year Infant
1-3 years Toddler
3-6 Years Preschooler
6-12 Years School Age
12-18 Years Adolescents
18 onwards Adulthood

14. Factors influencing Growth and Development
 Genetic Factors:- Different characteristics such as
height, body structure, color of skin, eyes and hair,
etc depend upon inherited gene from parents.
 Sex:- the sex of children influences their physical
attributes birth, male babies are heavier and longer
than female babies. Boys maintain this superiority
until about 11 years of age. Girls mature earlier than
boys and bone development is more advanced in
girls. But mean height and weight are usually less in
girls than boys at the full maturity.

15. Cont..
 Race and Nationality:- Growth potential of different
racial groups is different in varying extent. Physical
characteristics of different national groups also vary.
Height and stature of Americans and Indians are
usually differ because of the differences in growth
patterns.

16. Prenatal Factors
 Intrauterine environment is an important
predominant factor of growth and development.
Various conditions influence the fetal growth in
utero.
 Maternal Malnutrition.
 Maternal Infections.
 Maternal Substance abuse.
 Maternal Illness.

17. Cont..
 Hormones. Like thyroxin and insulin influence the
fetal growth.
 Miscellaneous. Various parental conditions, which
may also influence fetal growth include uterine
malformations mal-positions of the fetus
oligohydramnios, faulty placental implantation or
malfunction, maternal emotion during pregnancy,
inadequate prenatal care, etc.

18. Post Natal Factors
 Postnatal environment which influences growth and
development are as follows:
 Growth Potential:- is indicated by child’s size at
birth. The smaller the child at birth the smaller she /
he is likely to be in subsequent years.
 Nutrition.
 Childhood Illness.

19. Cont..
 Physical Environment: Housing, living conditions,
safety and fresh air, hygiene, safe water supply, etc.
 Psychological Environment:- Healthy family, good
parent child relationship and healthy interaction
with other family members, neighbors, friends. Lack
of love affection and security leads to emotional
disturbance which hinders emotional maturity and
personality development. Broken family, sibling
jealousy and inappropriate school environment has
poor effect on psychological development.

20. Cont..
 Cultural Influences.
 Socioeconomic Status.
 Climate and Season:- Climatic variation and seasonal
changes influence the child health.
 Play and exercise:- play and exercise promote
physiological activity and stimulates muscular
development.
 Birth order of the child:- the first born is usually
intelligent achievement oriented.

21. Cont..
 Intelligence:- Intelligence of the child influences
mental and social development.
 Hormonal Influence:- Hormones are the important
aspects of internal environment which have vital role
in growth and development of the children. All
hormones in the body affect growth in some manner.

22. Conclusion
 Growth is highly individual process, so also the
comparison of a child with others and with the
Childs own past growth is a valuable means of
evaluating progress.

23. Summary
 Summary includes introduction, definition,
principles and factors affecting growth and
development.

24. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Teacher reference
 Parul Datta. Pediatric Nursing. Third Edition.
Jaypeebrothers Publications P.Ltd. New
Delhi.2010 P.No 114-117
 T.M Beevi Assuma, Concise Textbook of
Paediatric Nursing, 2nd edition, Elsevier
Publications P. No 103-107
Student reference
 Parul Datta. Pediatric Nursing. Third Edition.
Jaypeebrothers Publications P.Ltd. New
Delhi.2010 P.No 114-117