Maturation is one of three key processes in human development along with growth and learning. It refers to the completion of growth and development within the body through the natural unfolding of inherent traits and potentials over time according to a person's genetics. While aging, the environment can influence the timing of certain developmental stages like puberty, the core process of maturation is determined by heredity and allows different species to reach functional milestones at different rates.

2. Along with growth and learning,
maturation is one of three processes
that play a central role in a person's
development. Maturation does not
necessarily happen along with aging
or physical growth, but is a part of
growth and development.
The concept of maturation was
pioneered by Arnold Gesell in the
1940s. He emphasized nature's role in
human development.

3. MATURATION is the completion of growth and
development within the organism, the unfolding
of an individual’s inherent traits or potentials
 Organ systems within the body must mature
over a certain period of time
 Most organs are capable of functioning of
birth.
 In the process of maturation, we see the
interaction of heredity and environment over the
course of time.
 However , a number of environmental changes
and conditions ca affect the onset of puberty.

4. HEREDITY AND MATURATION
 Maturation is not the same as learning,
since changes due to maturation and
changes are determined by heredity.
 Different species of animals have
different rates of maturation as a result of
heredity.
 An eight year-week puppy can run and
eat from a dish but an eight year-week
baby is still quite helpless and cannot
survive.

5. MOTOR MATURATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
 During maturation and development of
locomotion, the typical infant goes through the
sequence and still be considered normal.
 A child may progress somewhat faster or
slower than this sequence and still be considered
normal
 It is apparent that development in early life
depends on maturation rather than on practice or
learning.

15. MATURATION AND
LEARNING The importance of maturation is receiving more
and more attention in modern education
 Some children are ready at an earlier age than
others.
 It depends on the environment forces.
 In general, we can say that human learning
cannot be accounted by solely in terms of
maturation, but learning does take place most
efficiently when the environmental stimulation is
keyed to the degree of maturation of the
individual.