MONITORING AND ASSESSING CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Development is a process that entails the entire lifespan of an individual. The questions arise:
how does development evolves over the years? what are the changes that occur and do they
occur the lifespan? A study of all these changes is referred to as developmental psychology of
human development. When we force our attention to understand the growth, changes and
consistencies, on a limited portion of lifespan, from conception to adolescence, we are referring
to the study of child development
General principle of child development is that development occurs in a relatively orderly
sequence, progressing from simple to complex skills, with each stage building upon the
previous one, and is influenced by both genetics (nature) and environmental factors (nurture),
occurring across physical, cognitive, and socio emotional domains.
It informs the practices of various experts like psychologists, educators, childcare service
providers, parents etc. the field child development has both scientific as well as practical
relevance and utility. As we force here on the growth and development of children, we draw
upon the principles of lifespan developmental psychology to inform our understanding.
Childs growth and development are complex process which is influenced by multiple factors
and sources. The terms growth and development are often used in interchangeably which
ambiguity over their meaning.
Overview of growth and development Growth
Addition or increase in the bodily aspects that can be measured e.g. heights, weight, size,
length etc.- based on biological process occur over a period of time. Overall growth refers to
natural spontaneous, specific, genetically programmed, and measurable quantitative gains in
human body
Overview of growth and development Development:
Development refers to certain changes that occur within lifespan of an individual all types of
changes are not considered development. Most of these changes qualitative in nature. e.g.
changes in behaviors, social , moral, intellectual aspects of an individual.
Domains of Development 1
Physical development: This includes in body size, appearance, health, motor skill etc.
Cognitive development: This includes changes in intellectual abilities, thinking power, creative
ability, memory, attention, language etc.
Socio-emotional domain: This domain involves the process that relate to the changes in a
child’s relationship with the others e.g. feelings, emotions, values, beliefs, personality etc. as
shown in the following fig.
Domains of Development Stages of child’s development:
General principles of child development are given below.
1-Development is life-long.
It has two aspects= development extends throughout the lifespan of an individual. Second,
new process and changes may occur throughout constantly emerging nature of life-span
development.
2-Development is both multidimensional and multi multidirectional.
A healthy development involves multiple dimensions directions. It means that development is
neither limited to a single criterion, e.g. increase or decrease in physical ability – nor it is
restricted to a single direction e.g. only increase or decrease. Multiple abilities may change over
time in multiple ways.
3-Plasticity / flexibility in development:
The process of development is characterized by plasticity. It means that human being is open to
changes and modifications in response to influential experiences. E.g. an infant’s brain has the
tendency to change, modify or pickup the functions of other parts of the brain as a result of
injury.
4-development involves both gains and losses:
According to Baltes, any type of developmental process comprises both, growth and decline.
E.g. an increase in cognitive ability of a child during formal schooling also characterized a loss of
his creative abilities as a result of following the school rules etc. – sometimes balance in loss
and gain may change over time.
Development is situated in context and history:
Children grow up in different contexts which are characterized by their personal, social and
environmental circumstances. The varied circumstances influence the courses of development.
E.g. two children living in rural and urban areas have different types of influences and
experiences which can result in different parts of development changes for both of them.
Historical time period in which children grow also affect development.
6-development is multidisciplinary:
Baltes argued that the study of human development in multidisciplinary in nature. Therefore, a
single perspective or methodology is sufficient to develop a deep understanding of the multiple
process involved in human development e.g. psychological methods are not sufficient to reveal
the sociological process involved in development. So multiple perspectives and approaches are
needed to batter understand the human development.
