Is Development A Continuous Process?

All children and young people develop at different rates, but the order which they advance in differs very little. Children’s development tends to progress from head to toe, inner to outer, from simple to complex and from general to specific.

A child develops through its whole life. They can develop; physically, linguistically, intellectually, socially and behaviourally. “Physical development is the way in which the body increases in skill and becomes more complex in its performance” [Meggitt, 2000, Page 2]. Twenty five days after conception; the body of the chid has developed immensely from the small fertilised egg. Up to birth the foetus mainly develops physically however once the child is born the child then begins the long process of development. Not only do the gross motor skills and the fine motor skills develop on the baby, but the sensory development also widens on the child.

When looking at and discussing a child’s development, you have to remember that all children are different and grow at different rates. Every child will follow the same sequence but they may not necessarily do it at the same time as each other. For example, you could have two, 6 month old babies, 1 could already be able to crawl, and the other 1 may not have mastered it yet and may not until they are a bit older. You must remember that your child is an individual and not group him with another child and expect him/her to reach the milestones at the same time.

An explanation of the impact of current research into development and learning of babies and young children.

Human growth and development starts from the moment a child is conceived and continues until the day we die. There are many different stages of development all depending on the person’s beliefs on how we develop. All theories explain a specific growth and development for a specific time for an individual starting from birth to the time of their death. Not all the theories are agreed on because they are based on different individuals erase each and findings, and the time that the theory was developed.

How does an infant develop into an adult? The answer is not as obvious as it seems. There are a variety of factors that contribute to human development. A person not only grows physically but also cognitively and socio-emotionally. This paper will explain two theories; one cognitive and one socio-emotional; about human development. The two theories will be described, compared, contrasted and individually evaluated based on the strong points and limitations.

The development of a child in the first year of life is extremely intense; in just 52 weeks’ an infant goes through major physical, cognitive and social and emotional developments.

The sequence and rate of each aspect of development from birth to 19 years can be

From birth, a child develops physically. They firstly develop their reflexes, for example rooting, sucking and swallowing. At one month a baby should startle less. At 3 months a baby should lift and turn their own head. At 6 months a baby should be able to lift their hands and feet into the air. At 9 months a baby should be able to use their fingers to feed. At one year a baby should be able to stand holding onto furniture. At 18 months a child should be able to sit, and ride toys using their legs to push. At 2 years a child should be able to run and climb. At 3 years a child should be able to walk up stairs independently. At 4 years a child should be able to use their hands for tasks such as using scissors. At 5-6 years a child should be able to kick and control a ball. At 7-9 years a child should be able to draw and write neater, and cut out more accurately. At 9-11 years a child should have better coordination in fine and large movements. At 11-13 years a young person should have growth and changes to their body. At 13-19 years a young person’s body shape will be changing.

This is an area of development, that is often assumed will come automatically as the child grows. Although children develop many skills naturally it is important that they are given the opportunity to develop in a variety of ways in which require additional support.

There are many other theories related to early childhood development that are just as important in other areas of life span development. Because prenatal, infancy and early childhood represent the beginning of development it is understandable why it is important that emphasis be place on these developmental stages of life. Without a strong foundation on which to build on there can be no secure structure.

Development encompasses more than just the changes the body and mind goes through, and many psychologists study the relationship between physical, cognitive, and social development. Physical development begins at conception, whereas cognitive development does not begin until the fetal stage. During this time, the brain becomes much more sophisticated, the hemispheres grow rapidly and the interconnections between

0-3 years From the stages between 0-3 year’s children are learning their reflexes, about people around them, how to play alongside others etc. During this stage it is very important that all children get every type development without any problems as this may cause harsh conditions for them in the future.

The development of a child is viewed from a number of different perspectives by several developmental theorists. While some say that development continues throughout the life, others would hold an opinion that children stop to develop as soon as they mature. Therefore, lifespan developmental theorists have focused on a number of areas while studying the development of an individual. Some of these areas include cognitions, social development, sexual development, moral development and more. Each of these theories is important in order to completely analyze the process whereby which a child matures and transitions into an adult.

Furthermore a child will grow and develop in the same order that are extraordinary and the progress in their own natural rhythm.