Define growth and development.2. Discuss principles of growth anddevelopment.3. Describe need for monitoring growthand development.4. Discuss pattern of normal growth anddevelopment.5. Provide tips of promoting growth anddevelopment.

The most dramatic events in growth and developmentoccur before birth.

Increase in physical size andweight of the body (Height and Weight)
Increase in Mental, Physical,Social and Emotional abilitiesof the child. It meansfunctional and physiologicalmaturation.
Average level of development of a child which is decidedthrough the scientific study of physical, mental andnervous system of children.

Prenatal:Conception to the Birth•Infancy:Birth to 12 months•Neonatal period:Birth to 28 daysEarly neonatal period: Birth to 7 daysLate neonatal period: 7 days to 28 days•Infancy Period:29 days to 12 months•Early Childhood:1 year to 6 years•Toddler Period:1-3 years•Preschool Period:3- 6 years•Middle childhood:6- 12 years•Late Childhood or Adolescent:12-18 years•Puberty Period:Male: 12-14 yearsFemale: 11-13 years

There are definite and predictable patternof growth and development that arecontinuous, orderly and progressive.•CrawlCreep Walk•BabblesWordsSentences•ScribbleWriting
1. Directional Pattern: –Cephalocaudal Pattern ( Head to Tail) –Proximal to Distal (Midline to peripheral) –Mass to specific (Differentiation)
2. Sequential Pattern:
Involves a predictablesequence of Growth and Development stagesthrough which a child normally proceeds. –For motor skills such as locomotion i.e. childstarts crawling before walking and for behaviors such as language and social skills(e.g. First child plays alone, then with others).

HeredityNutritionIllness and DiseasePhysical, emotional and social environmentAge and gender Others- Birth order, Birth interval,dependence and independence.

Growth can be measured in term of:
•Nutritional