Child development and care

Child Development refers to the process through which human beings typically grow and mature from infancy through adulthood. The different aspects of growth and development that are measured include physical growth, cognitive growth, and social growth. Child development focuses on the changes that take place in humans as they mature from birth to about age 17.

A normal child grows rapidly in size, height and weight. If the child is making progress in what he does with his mind, and body, he is said to be developing.

Growth: Is an increase in the physical size of the whole body or any of its part.

Development: Is an increase in skills and complexity of function

Meaning and Stages of Child Development

1. INFANCY: The period of infancy begins at birth and ends at two years of age. It’s the most rapid period of growth throughout the lifespan.
2. EARLY CHILDHOOD: This period of development lasts from two years of age through six years of age.
3. MIDDLE CHILDHOOD: This takes place from ages 6 through 12. Physical growth continues and spurts of rapid growth in height and weight may occur.

Principles of Child Development

1. Children have individual differences
2. Individual differences make children to develop differently
3. A child should develop steadily to form a definite pattern
4. Development starts from the head and then spread to other part of the body
5. Development is influenced by heredity and the environment

Areas of Development

1. Physical Development: This development involves the physical structure and their function in a child e.g the brain muscle and the bones.
2. Mental Development: This is the development of intellectual abilities. It involves the ability to think, understand, solve problems e.t.c
3. Social Development: This involves the development of behaviour that is acceptable roles and social attitudes.
4. Emotional Development: This involves feelings and how a person expresses such feelings. For instance: anger, happiness e.t.c
5. Moral Development: This development shows in behavioural patterns and in how children treat other people.

Conditions Necessary for Child Development

1. Love and care from family
2. Good nutrition
3. Clothing
4. Exercise
5. Rest
6. Medical care
7. A safe and conductive environment

Factors that Influence Child Development

Genetic

Certain hereditary factors  influences on the body formation for example; tall parents have tall offspring.

Nutritional

Nutritional deficiency considerably retards physical growth. Malnourished mother produce babies with health problems.

Chronic diseases:

Chronic untreated diseases of heart, lungs, liver etc impair growth and development seriously. Growth Hormone Deficiency.

Emotional & Cultural

Trauma from unstable family, insecurity, sibling jealousy & loss of parents has effect on growth & development.

Growth potentials

The smaller the child at birth, the smaller he is likely to be in subsequent years. The larger the child at birth, the larger he is likely to be in later years

Assessment

• Briefly explain four factors that influence child development
• List five conditions necessary for child development