GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Growth is the progressive increase in size of a child. Development is progressive achievement of various skills /abilities such as head support, speaking, learning, expressing the feelings and interaction with others. Growth and development go together but with different rates.

There are multiple areas of growth and development that occurs throughout infancy and early childhood. 

Types of Development

Children grow and change in different areas of development 

Physical: A baby's growth is dramatic during this first year. There are changes found in child's body such as weight gain and height of the child.

Cognitive development: Brain cells develop during In-utero but the connections that allow a child to utilize knowledge do not occur till birth. Babies make progress in being able to learn and remember.

Emotional and social development: Babies shows emotions and interaction with people by expressing how they feel with facial expressions and by making sound.

Language:  Newborn starts listening to and absorbing the basic and distinct sounds of language of parents and care takers. This process forms the foundation for speech and understanding.

Sensory and motor skills: Newborns have all five senses they quickly learn to recognize your face, the sound of your voice, and how you smell. Your newborn's sense of touch is especially developed, particularly around the mouth. Vision also develops quickly but is believed to be weakest of the senses. Motor skill develops as the child’s muscles and nerves work together. Babies become strong enough to sit. Some will stand, and others will begin to take their first steps.

Emotional and social development: Babies shows emotions and interaction with people by expressing how they feel with facial expressions and by making sound.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Child growth and development are influenced by both external environmental factors known as exogenous factors and internal environmental factors known as endogenous factors.

1.        External environmental factors (exogenous) are:

·         Food/Diet

·         The geographical environment

·         Socio-economic factors

·         Educative factors

·         Exercises

·         Chemical emissions, radiation, trauma and

Diet: it is very important factor influencing growth and development because diet plays role from the womb. Thus, maternal malnutrition will pass on to the nutritional status of physical and mental health. Deficiency of nutrients such as protein and minerals will lead to enzyme and hormonal disorders, coagulation disorders, impaired skeletal mineralization and overeating can lead to obesity.

Geographical environment:  In A microclimate local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area (air, sun, light, temperature and atmospheric pressure) affects mainly in the first 5 years of life.

Socio-economic factors: sanitary conditions, various parasitic morbidity, housing, stress, financial situation affects the growth and development of a child.

Educational factors: This includes family climate where a family dominated by calm and optimism will encourage the child’s actions, the child will develop better than others who grow up in dysfunctional families or with conflict states.

Exercises: this includes baby massage and gymnastics for infant and subsequently for other age appropriate exercises have a positive role on growth and development.

Pollutants, radiation or trauma: Have negative impact on the physique and weight development.

2  Internal environmental factors (endogenous) are:

·  Genetic factors: This is an important factor influencing   on the weight development and intellectual development.

·   Hormonal factors: this factor is particularly important in the stature-weight and intellectual development.

Disturbances in the synthesis and release of the hormones will have a negative effect on child’s development causing dwarfism, gigantism, myxedema etc.

In addition to exogenous and endogenous factors, growth and development can be interfered negatively by pathological factors like chronic diseases (cystic fibrosis, chronic renal insufficiency)

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES 

Young children accomplish certain developmental "milestones" over the course of their first few years like rolling over, sitting up and uttering first word. These are all milestones that indicate that a child is developing normally.  

All babies are different and develop at their own speed, so there are growth differences in similar age groups and some develop in one area first and then go ahead for other.

Visiting doctor ensures normal growth and development. 

 

GROWTH MEASUREMENT  

The most common ways for measuring growth include:

Basic body measurements including weight, height & length and head circumference from birth to three years of age

Calculation of BMI (body mass index) and child-specific BMI charts for children over 2 years.