PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Development proceeds from head downwards – this is called CEPHALOCAUDAL PRINCIPLE
According to this principle, the child gains control of the head first, then arms and legs. Infant
develops control of the head within the first 2 months after birth. By 6 to 12 months of age, infants start
to gain leg control, and may be able to crawl, stand and walk. Coordination of arms always proceeds.
2. Development proceeds from center of body outwards – this is called PROXIMODISTAL PRINCIPLE
This means that the spinal cord develops before outer parts of the body. The child’s arm
develops before hands and hands and feet develop before fingers and toes. This means that parts of the
body nearest to the center are the earliest to develop and the farthest parts the last. Central nervous
system develops more rapidly than the peripheral nervous system.
3. Development is a continuous process – it goes from womb to tomb. It does not end with the
attainment of maturity, the changes however small they may be, continue throughout the lifespan of an
individual
4. Development proceeds from simple to complex – babies first develop their muscle groups- such as
those in the legs, neck, arms and torso. As they strengthen and gain control over these muscles, they
learn to do increasingly complex tasks. This means that development of more difficult tasks begins with
the mastery of simple tasks first.
5. Development proceeds from general to specific – in motor development infants will be able to grasp
an object with whole hands before using only thumbs and forefingers. In all areas of development,
general activities always precede specific activity. Ex. Infants wave their arms randomly. They can make
such specific responses as reaching out for an object near them.
6. Growth and development proceed in an orderly sequence – the stages of growth and development
are always in the same order and they have never occurred in reverse. For example, in growth, height
occurs only in one sequence from smaller to larger. In development, children crawl before they creep,
they creep before they stand and stand before they walk.
7. Different children pass through the predictable stages at different rates – all stages of development
have a range of time rather than a certain point at which they are usually accomplished. For example, a
child may be able to walk at 9 months while another at 14 months which means that each child grows at
different rates.
1. Development proceeds from head downwards – this is called CEPHALOCAUDAL PRINCIPLE
According to this principle, the child gains control of the head first, then arms and legs. Infant
develops control of the head within the first 2 months after birth. By 6 to 12 months of age, infants start
to gain leg control, and may be able to crawl, stand and walk. Coordination of arms always proceeds.
2. Development proceeds from center of body outwards – this is called PROXIMODISTAL PRINCIPLE
This means that the spinal cord develops before outer parts of the body. The child’s arm
develops before hands and hands and feet develop before fingers and toes. This means that parts of the
body nearest to the center are the earliest to develop and the farthest parts the last. Central nervous
system develops more rapidly than the peripheral nervous system.
3. Development is a continuous process – it goes from womb to tomb. It does not end with the
attainment of maturity, the changes however small they may be, continue throughout the lifespan of an
individual
4. Development proceeds from simple to complex – babies first develop their muscle groups- such as
those in the legs, neck, arms and torso. As they strengthen and gain control over these muscles, they
learn to do increasingly complex tasks. This means that development of more difficult tasks begins with
the mastery of simple tasks first.
5. Development proceeds from general to specific – in motor development infants will be able to grasp
an object with whole hands before using only thumbs and forefingers. In all areas of development,
general activities always precede specific activity. Ex. Infants wave their arms randomly. They can make
such specific responses as reaching out for an object near them.
6. Growth and development proceed in an orderly sequence – the stages of growth and development
are always in the same order and they have never occurred in reverse. For example, in growth, height
occurs only in one sequence from smaller to larger. In development, children crawl before they creep,
they creep before they stand and stand before they walk.
7. Different children pass through the predictable stages at different rates – all stages of development
have a range of time rather than a certain point at which they are usually accomplished. For example, a
child may be able to walk at 9 months while another at 14 months which means that each child grows at
different rates.
