Page 6 - LESSION 6.pmd

Growth and Development

they can perform the particular tasks only when they get physically and mentally
mature.
Notes Maturation is the unfolding of characteristics potentially present in the individual.
This comes from genetic endowment. Genetically, we are born with capacities
to walk, speak, think and so forth. There is an internal timetable within us that
propels us to start walking and speaking at the time when our body and mind
becomes mature enough. Have you observed how young children learn? They
learn through imitation and trial and error. Learning brings change in behaviour
due to environmental learning which includes effort and exercise. Maturation
and learning are closely related, one influences the other. Children develop as
per their internal genetic time table as well as external environmental inputs.
Thus, development is the product of maturation and learning.

There are individual differences in development
At each stage of development, one can expect certain competencies to appear in
every domain of development. These are called developmental milestones.
Milestones of development present the age ranges during which the majority of
children accomplish age specific skills.

It is important to note that there are individual differences in development. No
two children are alike. Each child is unique. One child may start speaking early
and the other might take more time to speak. The range of variability depends on
many factors like heredity and environment. Each child has different experiences
that interact with the unique hereditary pattern. Although the sequence of
development is fairly uniform, predetermined and common to all children, the
rate and pace of development may vary from child to child. Developmental
differences are routine among children unless a child deviates drastically from
the normal developmental pattern.

The child develops as a unified whole
Different domains of development are interrelated and therefore the child develops
as a unified whole. Each domain of development affects the other and is, in turn,
affected by the others. Any problem in one aspect of development is likely to
affect others. For example, a child who may be either chronically ill or may have
delayed physical-motor development, may not be able to participate subsequently
in physical activities with other children. As a result, the child may not get a
chance to mingle with other children and this may affect all other aspects of
development including social-emotional, cognitive and language. The impact
may be minor and temporary, or serious and permanent.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 6.1

1. What is meant by development?

80 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION