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Growth and Development

i.e. from head to toe. This head-to-toe sequence is called Cephalocaudal (Latin
“head to tail”)principle of development. This shows that development in children’s
head region comes first, followed by trunk region, and finally, in the leg region.
This pattern helps to understand why children learn to see an object before they Notes
can control their trunk and they learn to sit before they can stand.

CEPHALOCAUDAL PROXIMODISTAL

Fig. 6.2 Pattern of Development
Development also proceeds from central parts of the body to peripheral parts
referred to as near to far sequence. This is called Proximodistal (Latin, “near to
far”) principle of development. In a foetus, the head and trunk region gets well
developed before the rudimentary limb buds appear. Gradually, the arm buds
develop into hands and fingers. That is the reason why children master using
their arms before their hands. They develop control over their fingers much later.

Apart from physical and motor development, are there predictable patterns and
sequences in other developments also? The answer is, yes. There is a predictable
pattern of development for different cognitive functions. Initially, children’s
thinking is built on concrete objects in their environment and later they can think
in terms of abstract ideas as well. Therefore, young children need concrete objects
and pictures to manipulate. They learn by doing and engaging in a variety of
activities. Later, children develop concepts in abstract terms also. Likewise, other
domains of development also follow a sequential pattern.

Here it is important to bring attention to the fact that although ordinarily the
sequence is common to all children, certain aspects of development may remain
affected in some children due to a variety of reasons.

Development is a product of maturation and learning
You must have observed that normally most children learn to sit around at the
age of six months, stand while holding in eight to nine months take their first
steps between 9 and 12 months and start walking by 13 to 15 months. Under
normal circumstances, all children have the potential to sit, stand and walk. But

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION 79