general rules of human growth and development for nurses, general doctors, pediatricians and community healthcare staffs.

1. Principle of Growth and Development
Dr.Aye Mu Saan
Yangon Children Hospital

2. Outline
• Definition
• Principles

3. Definitions
Growth
• Process of physical
maturation results in
increase in size
– Physical structure - height,
weight, body proportions
– Internal organs –functions of
glands, nervous system,
muscular, reproductive and
etc.
Development
• Process of functional and
physiological maturation
– progressive increase in skills
and capacity to function
– E.g.,emotions, personality,
behavior, thinking and speech
• Related to maturation and
myelination of nervous
system
Balasundaram P, Avulakunta ID. Human Growth and Development. [Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567767/

4. Principles of Growth and Development
• General rules of human growth and development
happen in stages over a range of time
• Same for all individuals

5. directional sequence of developmental stages
(a) Cephalocaudal or (b) Proximodistal

6. Cephalocaudal

7. Proximodistal

8. Kanazawa et al. 2022

9. Growth and Development is a
continuous process

10. Growth and Development is orderly or
sequential process

11. Development proceeds from simple to
complex
Classification

12. Development proceeds from general
to specific
General
Specific

13. Growth and Development is Predictable

14. Primitive reflexes need to be lost
• automatic movements that are directed by the brainstem and
need no cortical involvement (thought).
• essential for survival and development in the womb and in
the early months of life until they become obsolete when
higher functioning brain processes take place.
• involuntary newborn reflexes replaced with voluntary
movements

15. Certain stage of growth and Development
is more critical
Image ref source internet

16. Influenced by genetic and
environmental factors

17. Nature and Nuture
Sun
Water
Soil
Nutrients

18. Ecobiodevelopmental framework
Shonkoff, Jack P. et al. “ecobiodevelopmental framework new morbidity toxic stress social inequalities health disparities health promotion
disease prevention advocacy brain development human capital development pediatric basic science.” (2012).

19. Effects of Toxic Stress on Brain Development
in Early Childhood
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Cambridge: The Council: 2005.Excessive stress disrupts the architecture of the
developing brain. Working Paper No. 3.

20. Growth comes from within
Behavioral epigenetic research has indicated that life
experiences can affect gene expression.
Genetic predisposition
Biological makeup
Physical world
Levitt M. Perceptions of nature, nurture and behaviour. Life Sci Soc Policy. 2013;9:13.

21. Growth is uneven
Growth is individual difference
Growth is personal matter
UNICEF

22. I‐ infancy
C‐ childhood
J‐ juvenile
A‐adolescence
M‐ mature adult
Distance and velocity curves of growth for healthy, well- nourished humans.
Bogin, et al.(2014). Humans are not cooperative breeders but practice biocultural reproduction.
Growth is uneven
Boys
Girls

23. Growth is individual
difference
Growth is personal matter

24. Sravanti L. Nurture the nature. 2017
• Every sapling can grow into a tree with a tough
trunk that supports itself and branches that
spread across a large expanse serving multiple
purposes. While, some need dry and arid
environment, others flourish in moist and
damp conditions. Providing care according to
the requirements of a given plant will help in
its growth.
• Similarly, every child has the potential to grow
up to be a responsible adult provided the
environment is conducive for his or her
development. Therefore, catering to a given
child's needs will facilitate the blooming
process.

25. Rate of growth and development is
interrelated
• Changes in one domain often impact other areas and highlight
each area’s importance.
Walk <‒‒> curiosity< ‒‒>explore <‒‒>cognitive development< ‒‒>new skills

26. Growth and development is
interrelated

27. There is co-ordination between
increase in size and maturation

28. • Maturation refers to the sequential characteristic of biological
growth and development.
• The biological changes occur in sequential order and give
children new abilities.
• Children must mature to a, certain point before they can
progress to new skills.

29. Stiles & Jernigan (2010). The basics of brain development. Neuropsychology Review, 20(4), 327-348.
90% of adult volume by age 6

30. Dosenbach, et al. (2010). Prediction of Individual Brain Maturity Using fMRI. Science (New York, N.Y.). 329.
1358-61. 10.1126/science.1194144.

31. Skills are learned by practice
Higher-order motor skills are the result of
both maturation and training; the degree of
accomplishment reflects wide variability in
innate skill, interest, and opportunity.

32. Growth has certain characteristics
common at particular stages
Developmental growth curves
Scammon, R. the measurement of the body in childhood .The measurement of man. 1930.

33. Principles of Growth and Development
1. Growth and development is cephalocaudal and proximodistal in direction.
2. Growth and Development is a continuous process.
3. Growth and Development is orderly or sequential process .
4. Development proceeds from simple to complex .
5. Development proceeds from general to specific.
6. Growth and Development is Predictable.
7. Primitive reflexes need to be lost.
8. Certain stage of growth and Development is more critical.
9. Influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
10. Growth comes from within
11. Growth is uneven.⁄ Growth is individual difference.⁄ Growth is personal matter.
12. Rate of growth and development is interrelated.
13. There is co-ordination between increase in size and maturation.
14. Skills are learned by practice.
15. Growth has certain characteristics common at particular stages.

34. Thank You