Growth and Development

Growth and develpoment are two improtant characteristics of human begings. The term growth and development generally refers to the process by which the fertilised ovum develops into a mature adult. This maturation occurs through successive changes in both physical structure and functional abilities.

Growth is an essential feature of childhood. Growth refers to physical matureation. In other words, its is the increase in size of the body resulting from increase in the number and size of the cells of body. The increase in body size leads the child to be taller, broader and heavier. These changes in height and breadth (eg. head circumference) can be measured in terms of centimetres or inches and the heaviness or weight in terms of kilogram or pounds. Thus growth is a quantitative change and can be measured easily.

In general the rate of growth is more important than the actual size of the child . so to assess the growth rate, the measurement of height and weight shuld be done at regular intervals.

Development is defined as th functional or physiological maturation that follows physical maturation. In ohter words it is the acquisition of skills and the ability to adopt to environment. It is measured in terms of various behavioural achievemetns or abilities known as milestones. Development is complex qualitative change. Hence it is difficult to measure.

Characteristics of a Child

A child is not a miniature adult but a unique individual wih special needs and qualities. An Adult is a mature being in terms of body structure and functions whereas a child is at a varying stage f rowth and development from birth to adolescence. That means he is an immature inividual in erms of his body structure and functions necessitating a different kind of care. The characteristics of children can be discussed under the follwoing heaidngs.

1. 
   
   body structure
2. 
   
   physiological processess
3. 
   
   intellectual abilites
4. 
   
   emotional responses.

Body structure

In relation to body structure, the proportional size of the body parts is an important feature. For example an infant has a heavier and bigger head in comparison to his body size and weight. It makes handling of infants different from older children and adults. The infants head must  be supported while holding or lifting him. Injury to head can occur more commonly in infants than in the older children.

In neonates the skull bones are joined by membranous spaces called sutures and fontanelle. So any increase in the intracranial pressure in infant causes the suture lines to be widened and fontanelle to be bulged out, thereby increasing the size of the head. But in older children and adults increase in intracranial pressure does not increase the size of the head.

Physiological processes

The difference in the physiological characteristics of childrean at different ages makes it necessary to provide different kinds of care to children at the different ages.

In terms of unit body weight, younger children need more nutritious food than older children because of their rapid growth rate, increased level of body activity and high basal metabolic rate. If young children do not get adequate food, they develop nutritionla deficiencies such as marasums, kwashiorkor, rickets, xerophthalmia etc. much more rapidly that in the older children.