The document discusses issues and factors affecting child development. It begins by outlining three main issues in child development: whether development is continuous or discontinuous, whether there is a single or multiple paths of development, and the role of nature versus nurture. It then identifies four categories of factors that influence development: biological, environmental, interpersonal relationships, and early experiences. Finally, it discusses physical development in childhood in detail, including the course of growth, influences on development, and characteristics of learners.