PHASES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

PHASES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
A. Process - sequence is orderly and predictable; rate tends to be variable within (more quickly/ slowly) and between (earlier/later) individuals
1. Growth – increase in size (height and weight; tends to cyclical, more rapid in utero, during infancy, and adolescence

Developmental tasks – skills and competencies associated with each developmental stage that have an effect on subsequent stages of development
Developmental milestone – standard of reference by which to compare the Child’s behavior at specific ages
Developmental delay (s) – variable of developmental which lags behind the range of a given age

PRINCIPLES of GROWTH
1. Children are individuals, not little adults, who must be seen as part of a family.
2. Children are influenced by genetic factors, home and environment, and parental attitudes.
3. Chronologic & developmental ages of children are the most important contributing factors influencing their care.
4. Play is a natural medium for expression, communications, and growth in children.
5. Growth is complex, with all aspects closely related.
6. Growth is measured both quantitatively and qualitatively over a period of time.
7. Although the rate is uneven, growth is continuous and orderly process.
a. Infancy: most rapid period of growth
b. Preschool to puberty: slow and uniform rate of growth
c. Puberty: (growth spurt) second most rapid growth period
d. After puberty: decline in growth rate till death
8. There are regular patterns in the direction of growth and development, such as the cephalocaudal law (from head to toe) and from proximodistal law (from center to periphery)
9. Different parts of the body grow at different rates:
• Prenatally: head grows the fastest.
• During the first year: elongation of trunk dominates.
10. Both rate and pattern of growth can be modified, most obviously by nutrition.
11. There are critical or sensitive periods in G&D, such as brain growth during uterine life and infancy.
12. Although there are specified sequences for achieving G&D, each individual proceeds at own rate.
13. D is closely R/T the maturation of the nervous system; as primitive reflexes disappear, they are replaced by a voluntary activity.

PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS of GROWTH
Circulatory System
Heart rate decreases with increasing age
• Infancy: 120 bpm
• One year: 80 to 120 bpm
• Childhood: 70 to 110 bpm
• Adolescence to adulthood: 55 to 90 bpm

BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASES with AGE
1. The 50th percentile ranges from 55 to 70 mmHg diastolic; 100 to 110 mmHg systolic
2. These levels increase about 2 to 3 mmHg/yr. starting at age 7 yrs.
3. Systolic pressure in adolescence: higher in males than in females

HEMOGLOBIN
1. Highest at birth, 17 g/100 ml of blood; then decreases to 10 to 15 g/100 ml by 1 year.
2. Fetal Hgb (60% to 90% of total Hgb) gradually decreases during the first year to less than 5%.
3. Gradual increases in Hgb level to 14.5 g/100 ml between 1 to 12 years.
4. Level higher in males than in females

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• Rate decreases with increase in age:
- Infancy: 30 to 40 cpm
- Childhood: 20 to 24 cpm
- Adolescence& adulthood: 16 to 18 cpm

VITAL CAPACITY
• Gradual increase throughout childhood and adolescence, with a decrease in later life
• Capacity in males exceeds that in females

BASAL METABOLISM
• Highest rate is found in new born
• Rate declines with increase in age; highest in males than in females

URINARY SYSTEM
• Premature & full term newborns have some inability to concentrate urine.
- Specific Gravity: (Newborn): 1.001 to 1.02
- Specific Gravity: (Others): 1.002 to 1.03
• GFR greatly increased by 6 months of age; reaches adult values between 1 t& 2 years; gradually decreases after 20 years.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• Stomach size is small at birth; rapidly increases during infancy and childhood
• Peristaltic activity decreases with advancing age
• Blood Glucose levels gradually rise from 75 to 80 mg/100 ml of blood in infancy to 95 to 100 mg during adolescence
• Premature infants have lower blood glucose levels than do full-term infants.
• Enzymes are present at birth to digest proteins and a moderate amount of fat but only simple sugars (amylase is produced as starch is introduced)
• Secretion of Hcl acid & salivary enzymes increases with age until adolescence; then decrease with advancing age.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Brain reaches 90% of total size by 2 yrs. of age.
• All brain cells are present by the end of the first year, although their size & complexity will increase.
• Maturation of the brainstem & spinal cord follows Cephalocaudal & Proximodistal Laws.

FUNCTIONS of PLAY
• Educational: learn about physical world & associate names with objects
• Recreational: release surplus energy
• Sensorimotor: muscle development and tactile, auditory, visual, and kinesthetic stimulation
• Social & emotional adjustment: learn moral values; develop the idea of sharing
• Therapeutic: release of tension & stress; manipulation of syringe and other equipment allows control over threatening events.

TYPES of PLAY
• Active, Physical: push-and-pull toys; riding toys; sports and gym equipment
• Manipulative, constructive, creative, or scientific: blocks, construction toys such as erector sets; drawing sets; microscope & chemistry sets; books; computer programs
• Imitative, imaginative, and dramatic: dolls, dress-up costumes; puppets
• Competitive and social: games; role playing

CRITERIA for JUDGING the NONSUITABLE TOYS
• Unsafe
• Beyond the child’s level of G&D: over stimulating; frustrating
• Foster isolation from peer group
• Safety
• Compatibility: child’s age; level of development; experience
• Usefulness
- Challenge to development of the child; assist child to achieve mastery.
- Enhance social & personality development;, increase motor & sensory skills; develop
creativity; express emotions
- Implement therapeutic procedures