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.
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