Test: Education & Leadership (Growth and Development - I) - Software Development MCQ

Growth basically refers to the quantitative changes in body proportion like changes in height, weight, internal organs, etc. Development, on the other hand, reflects the qualitative changes in the individual. It may be defined as a progressive series of orderly, coherent changes.

Key Points

• Growth is natural. Growth changes from an early stage to a later stage. Thus growth is confined to the physical changes which are quantifiable.
• Development is qualitative changes in the person which is reflected in the improvement in working or functioning of the person.
• For example, if we measure the height and weight of the child then we are dealing with the concept of growth but when we talk in terms of improvement in functioning like writing with a pen or keeping objects in a high place, then these changes in the child denotes developmental process.
• We may conclude that growth stops after a certain age whereas development may go on and it needs external intervention. External intervention means the influence and impact of the external environment.
• For example, a person may have mathematical ability but this ability cannot be refined unless that person is provided the opportunity to exercise his ability for maths.

Thus, it is concluded that growth is natural while development needs external intervention is true for the processes of growth and development.

Development, which is continuous change, is a phenomenon that is observed both in terms of quality and quantity.

Key Points

The following are the characteristics of development:

• In quantity, we measure terms like height, weight. Measuring quantitively is called growth which is a subset of development.
• When measured qualitatively as well, that is, in terms of skills, it becomes development and quality is attained when a person is both motivated and experienced.

Important Points

Although growth and development go hand in hand, certain important differences make them apart.

Hint

• Equilibrium refers to the condition in which the knowledge stored in a schema is balanced with old knowledge.
• Maturation refers to the concept that a child learns something when he reaches a particular age.

Hence, we conclude that when an individual’s capacities processed quantitatively is called growth.

Growth and development are the base of human life. Growth is a part of the developmental process, as development in its quantitative aspect is termed as growth.

• Development can take place without growth. All growth is development but not vice-versa. 
• Growth refers to a quantitative change that results in an increase in height, weight, and length of the child.
• Development refers to a qualitative change that results in an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs.
• Development & growth is a product of the interaction of hereditary and environment.  They play a vital role in determining an individual's development and growth.

Important Points

Although growth and development go hand in hand, certain important differences make them apart.

Hence, from the above points, it becomes clear that the development is a continuous process, but growth does not continue throughout life, it stops when maturity has been attained.

The development of child takes place through various place. Although each stage has an encompassing relationship to other stages, yet its has own unique characteristic needs and demands.

Key Points

Prenatal Period:

• The period from the day of conception to the birth of the baby.
• Life begins with the formation of zygote.
• The fertilized egg begins to divide within an hour or two after conception, into two cells.
• Ten hours later these two cells divide to make four cells, then four to make eight cells, then sixteen cells and so on.
• The cells continue to divide till eight weeks after conception ad this period is called Embryonic period.
• This is followed by fetal period of development which is from about 8 weeks when the embryo becomes a recognizable human beings, to the time of birth.
• The proper development of fetus depends upon many factors, such as health of mother, use of drugs and alcohol, smoking, nutritional status of mother, stress and emotional factors.

Hence, we can conclude that the period from the day of conception to the birth of the baby.

Additional Information

• Stages of Child Development:
  • Prenatal Period
    • Embryonic period: Conception to eight weeks
    • Period of fetus: 8 weeks to birth
  • Infancy period
    • Neonatal period: Birth to 15 days
    • Infancy period: 15 days to 2 years
  • Early Childhood (Preschool years): 2 to 5-6 years 
  • Middle Childhood (School age): 5-6 to 12 years
  • Adolescence
    • Puberty: 12 to 14 years
    • Adolescence: 14 to 18 years
  • Adulthood:
    • Early adulthood: 18 to 35/40 years
    • Middle adulthood: 40 to 60 years
    • Late adulthood: Early 60 and above

• It involves physical, intellectual, emotional, cognitive as well as social development. It is also influenced by environmental factors and the learning capacity of children.
• Every individual is different from each other and their area of development is also different.

Key Points

Language learning is a process that begins at birth and continues throughout life. In other words, language learning is an ongoing process. children learn language through which they communicate their feelings, emotions, experiences, etc.

Stage of development for learning a language:-

Pre Childhood:- This stage is also known as pre-schoolers. It starts from 2-6 years.

• At this age, the child reaches the idea of what's going surroundings.
• It is the stage of the overall development of the child.
• A child is ready to roam around the world and become more active.
• A child grows quickly both physically and cognitively.
• A child does not speak but there is a beginning of understanding short words and phrases.

Other stages of development for language learning:-

Thus, it is concluded that pre-childhood is the stage of child development that is termed the best stage for language learning

Development can be defined as the change of shape, size, health, or change in psychology. The development of human beings is divided into different stages: Infancy, Early childhood, Late Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood.

'Adolescence' comes from the Latin word 'Adolescere' which means 'to grow to become mature'. It is a stage which lies between the age of '12 to 19 years.

• Adolescence is the transitional stage of childhood and adulthood when a child develops physically and psychologically into an adult.
• It is a stage of storm and stress because in this stage children are in conflict with their parents, are moody, and tend to spend more time with their peers.
• Adolescents’ thought becomes more abstract, logical, idealistic, and ready to take concrete actions and decisions. They become more capable of examining their own thoughts, observing others’ thoughts, and what others are thinking about them.

Key Points

Characteristics of Adolescence Stage:

• Maturity in sexual organs
• Start thinking about future career
• Cognitive developments such as the ability to think abstractly
• Increase in the incidence of emotional upheavals
• Attraction towards the opposite sex
• Becoming conscious about outward appearance
• Heightened emotions such as getting easily frustrated

Hence, we can conclude that an increase in the incidence of emotional upheavals statement is most appropriate in relation to adolescence.

Personal development is concerned with how children perceive themselves and what they are capable of. How children view themselves about their relationships with others is a part of their social development. As your child develops and grows, it's critical to provide the opportunity to practice these abilities.

Key Points

• The instructor should play a key role in the child's personal and social development, children should be prevented from participating in various social schemes, and the assertion about group activities is inaccurate.
• Personal and social skills development allows youngsters to get the most out of their school experiences. Children get a greater awareness of themselves and learn to manage themselves.
• Personal and social skills development allows children to get the most out of their school experiences. Children develop self-control and have a greater awareness of themselves.
• Children's approaches to learning, relationships with others, and social problem-solving are all important aspects of personal and social development for successful functioning in the school setting.

​As a result, teacher should encourage children to participate in various social schemes and group activities. 

Additional Information

• The child should be taught about society's social culture and prevalent views. Cultural knowledge and tradition are critical in assisting young children in developing a healthy sense of self-identity and self-esteem. Cultural appreciation and awareness, according to studies, aid in the development of a healthy self-image.
• Students from all origins and needs can flourish through increasing multicultural understanding and inclusiveness. Children at the school come from many homes, and their cultures differ, thus the instructor should foster an intercultural spirit in the students. 

Maturation refers to the changes that follow an orderly sequence and are largely dictated by the genetic blueprint which produces commonalities in our growth and development.

Key Points

In the above-mentioned phenomenon, the bold word 'maturationally' can be attributed to the importance of maturation as:

• Maturation refers to the potential traits (for different activities like sitting, crawling, creeping, walking, etc.) that present at birth in the individual and are controlled by heredity. This unfolds itself at the appropriate time.
• For example, most children can sit without support by 7 months of age, stand with support by 8 months and walk by one year. Once the underlying physical structure is sufficiently developed, proficiency in these behaviors requires an adequate environment and little practice.
• The special efforts to accelerate these behaviors do not help if the infant is maturationally not ready. 

Thus, it is concluded that in the above-mentioned phenomenon, the bold word 'maturationally' can be attributed to the importance of maturation.

Hint

• Growth refers to an increase in the size of body parts or of the organism as a whole. It can be measured or quantified, for example, growth in height, weight, etc.
• Development is a process by which an individual grows and changes throughout the life cycle. The term development applies to the changes that have a direction and hold a definite relationship with what precedes it, and in turn, will determine what will come after.
• Evolution refers to species-specific changes. Natural selection is an evolutionary process that favors individuals or species that are best adapted to survive and reproduce. The evolutionary changes are passed from one generation to the next within a species. 

Language development refers to acquiring the ability to comprehend and produce language. 

Key Points The agencies that contribute to language development -

• Family- It is the primary agency that facilitates language development. The child gets to listen to the sounds, words, and meaningful sentences in a family environment.
• School - It plays a role in the holistic development of a child but by the time a child reaches school, he has already acquired his first language. It might play a role in the development of a second language.
• Mass-Media - It is not a primary agency of language development.
• Magazines - It helps in the development of the reading and comprehension skills of a child.

Hence we conclude that Family is the primary agency of language development.

Additional Information Language Development takes place in the following stages -

• Cooing - It refers to producing vowel sounds. It is the infant’s oral expression that explores the production of vowel sounds.
• Babbling- It comprises consonant as well as vowel sounds; to most people’s ears.
• One-word utterances-  these utterances are limited in both the vowels and the consonants they utilize.
• Two-word utterances - children start combining single words to produce two-word utterances.
• Complete sentences - After 2-word utterances, the child starts joining the words and making the sentences.

Social development refers to the way a child learns to interact with others and develop social relationships with others.

Key Points

• The social development of a child involves the interpersonal relationships of an individual, her acquired social skills, and values, and the ways in which an individual adjusts to society.
• The social development of children takes place through the games they play.
  • Games help them to form a social world of their own.
  • Through games, they form social relationships and learn to deal with different situations in that relationships.
  • It teaches them adjustment with their playmates which helps them in getting adjusted to the real world around them.

Hence we conclude that Games play a most important role in the social development of a child.

Additional Information

• Heredity - It determines the basic characteristics of a child but does not play any role in social development.
• Education of parents - It influences the overall development of a child and so does social development but is not an essential factor for the socialization of the child.
• Teachers - They are a part of the social world of the child. The child interacts with the teacher who is an element of socialization but it is not an essential factor.

An understanding of human growth and development is important for every person interested in the care of children. The knowledge helps to determine whether or not a child is healthy, mentally alert, and well adjusted to the environment.

• Growth is an important attribute of childhood. The process of growth starts from the conception of the fetus and continues till adolescence when the child matures into adulthood.
• The terms growth and development are generally interpreted to include all of the processes which lead to an increase in size and maturation of functions of the various organs of the body.
• Every child grows and develops in response to a predetermined plan. This plan is established at the time of his conception. However, environmental conditions and stimulations influence the growth and developmental patterns. 

Key Points

• ​The terms growth and development are closely interrelated and it is not possible to separate one from the other.
• In a normal child, they parallel each other but the terms are not the same. They represent two aspects of the change, i.e., quantity and quality, the body grows and behavior develops.
• Growth refers to an increase in the size of the body parts due to the multiplication of cells and an increase in the intercellular substance.
• It can be measured in inches or centimeters and in kilograms or pounds. It causes quantitative changes in the body. Each child has a different genetic potential for growth.

Thus, it is concluded that growth is related to the physical aspect of the personality of the child.

Additional Information

• Development refers to physiological maturation. It is a progressive increase in skill and capacity to function. It causes a qualitative change in a child's functioning. Unlike growth, it is rather difficult to assess development.

Development is the change brought up by the process of learning and maturation. It is the product of both heredity and the environment of an individual.

• It includes all the qualitative changes in an individual over a period of time by the process of learning and maturation.
• It refers to the overall changes in an individual in various dimensions- physical, mental, social, emotional, and so on.

​Key Points

• Development occurs through two main processes: learning and maturation.
• Maturation refers to the unfolding or gradual opening-up of traits or potentials present in an individual because of genetic inheritance.
  • It is the net result of what one possesses genetically.
• Learning takes place as a result of a child’s interaction with the environment which then brings about a change in his behavior.
• For example, when a baby begins to teeth or starts walking it is because of maturation. But, when a child acquires the skill of performing a specific dance or singing a particular song, it is an act of learning. 
• Both maturation and learning occur side by side, each one influencing the other.
• Learning often promotes the process of maturation. The process of learning and maturation are said to be complementary.
  • For example, the development of cognitive abilities in a person is dependent on the experience and opportunities provided by the environment as well as maturation.

So, it is concluded that development is the result of the interaction between maturation and learning.

Additional Information

Principles of development define the basic process of human development. It will assess the role and importance of growth processes and levels and the principles of growth and behavior in the total life span. 

Key Points 

• Development is correlated: All types of developments, i.e. physical, mental, social, and emotional, are related to each other e.g. a physically healthy child is likely to have superior sociability and emotional stability. The child develops as a unified whole. Each area of development is dependent on the other and thus influences the other developments. For example, Sufi has an appropriate weight and height for her age. She also has a well-developed language ability that enables her to communicate with everyone. She is loved by all and has positive self-esteem.

Important Points 

• Development involves change: The human being is never static. From the moment of conception to the time of death, the person is changing. 
• The development follows a fixed pattern/sequence: Sequential pattern of development can be seen in two directions:
  • Cephalo-caudal sequence: means that development spreads over the body from head to foot.
  • Proximodistal sequence: means that the development proceeds from the central part of the body towards the peripheries. 
• Development proceeds from general to specific: In all the phases of prenatal(before birth) development and post-natal (after birth) life, the child’s responses are from general to specific. 

Hence we can conclude that Development is correlated is the correct answer.

Childhood refers to the period of the human lifespan, ranging from birth to puberty. The three stages of childhood are- 

• Early Childhood (The Preschool Years) (2-6 years)
• Middle Childhood (The School Years) (6 to age 12)
• Later Childhood (12-14 years of age)

Key Points

• The significant psychological accomplishments of middle childhood are in the area of intellectual competence. 
• Children in this age period become capable of logical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving in a variety of tasks.
• The ability to think logically about concrete or real-world events and experiences is the hallmark of this stage.
• The children understand operations and develop an understanding of the meaning of rules and can reason.

Hint

• Make-believe play is a ubiquitous part of early childhood. In make-believe play, children pretend that an object is something other than what it actually is.
• A child who is in the adolescent period (14 to 18 years) can hypothesize possible causes and accordingly design complex experiments.
• At infancy 1-2 years of age, the child just beginning to show fine motor skills such as grasping a pencil and other such objects.

Hence, we can conclude that the right answer to this question is a child who has developed an understanding of the meaning of rules and can reason, would be in the middle childhood stage.

Development refers to an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs. It is a product of the interaction of heredity and environment.

• The major domains of development such as physical, cognitive, social, and emotional are developed in an integrated and holistic process.

Important Points Let's Understand in Brief:

Hence, we conclude that Areas of Human Development are Cognitive, Social, Emotional, and Physical.

Development refers to an increase in structure for better and enhanced functioning of organs. A child develops in an orderly sequence which is almost similar in all children.

• There are some domains of development such as physical(motor), cognitive, social-emotional, moral, and language domains. These domains are developed in an integrated and holistic process.
• Motor development refers to the physical changes that occur in humans throughout life. Understanding physical and motor development is extremely important as it provides the basis for the development of a child’s personality. 
• It helps to gain mastery over the child’s own body and movements. Physical development is the most recognized and observable change in the life of a child.

Key Points

Child development takes place in two directions, one is from the head-to-foot direction (Cephalocaudal) and the second is from near to distant (Proximodistal). Both principles are applicable in the sphere of motor development as:

• The Cephalocaudal Principle: It exhibits that the development proceeds in the longitudinal direction i.e. from top to bottom or head to foot. That is the reason why a child first gains control over the head before s/he starts walking.
• The Proximodistal Tendency: It proceeds from centre to outward or near to the distant and from parts of the body near the centre develop first then the extremities. Therefore, the child in the earlier stages of development starts developing the fundamental muscles rather than the smaller muscles or fine motor skills.

Hence, it could be concluded that the Cephalocaudal principle is applicable in the sphere of motor development.

Additional Information

• Social development: It refers to the development of social skills and values across the lifespan.
• Emotional development: It refers to the development of the ability to control and manage one's own emotions and as well as of others.
• Cognitive development: It refers to the development of the ability to reason, think,  perceive and solve a problem.
• Language development: It refers to the development of the ability to understand, perceive and use language.
• Moral development: It refers to the development of the ability to learn the difference between right and wrong.

Socialization is the process through which communities transact or educate their members about the norms and values of society to be socially acceptable.

• Socialization is a combination of personality development and cultural development.
• It is an act that ensures the:
  • transmission of manners and culture.
  • adaptation of social norms and values.
  • internalization of attitudes and customs of society.
• All types of socialization may be classified into two broad groups, viz. primary socialization, and secondary socialization. 
• This division is based on the primary and secondary needs of individuals.

Key Points

Let's understand in brief the types of Socialization: 

Important Points

• Since in both situations the parents were attending to the needs, values, and demands of the child, they both are examples of primary socialization.

​Thus, 

• Situation 1: A couple scolded the child when she was asking for the ice cream: Primary Socialisation
• Situation 2: A couple was playing hide and seek with their child: Primary Socialisation

Additional InformationAnticipatory Socialisation:

• Anticipatory socialization refers to the processes of socialization in which a person "rehearses" for future positions, occupations, and social relationships.

Development is the change brought up by the process of learning and maturation. It is the product of both heredity and the environment of an individual.

• It includes all the qualitative changes in an individual over a period of time by the process of learning and maturation.
• It refers to the overall changes in an individual in various dimensions- physical, mental, social, emotional, and so on.

Key Points

The changes brought up by the process of development and growth in an individual tend to follow some well-defined principles. These are known as the principles of development and growth.

• Development is cumulative: The children will go through the same stages of development in the same order but not with the same speed because of the existence of individual differences. In the development of learning a language first the children will develop the listening skills and then the speaking skills. But some children will develop listening skills faster than others because of individual differences and only after that, they will acquire speaking skills in the same order as others. Hence, development is cumulative.
• Principle of continuity: It starts from the womb and continues till death. It is a continuous life-long process.
• The rate of growth and development is not uniform: It proceeds more rapidly in the early years of life but slows down in the later years of childhood and again there is a sudden rise in the speed of growth and development during puberty but it is not maintained for a long time.
• Principle of individual differences: Each individual grows at his own unique pace because of the wide individual differences that exist among the children with respect to their growth and development.
• Uniformity of pattern: The development does not proceed at a uniform rate but it does follow a definite sequence or pattern and is somewhat uniform i.e., the child learns saying "papa" to greet every man he meets, but it's only afterwards he uses it for his father only. Hence, it follows a pattern.
• Development proceeds from general to specific responses: The child's responses are of the general sort before they become specific. The general activity precedes the specific activity i.e., the Child moves his hands first randomly and then starts using his fingers specifically and takes complete control of his hand movements.
• Principle of integration: Some specific responses or part movements are combined in the later process of learning or development to form a whole. It is the integration of parts to the whole and its parts as well as the specific and general responses that make a child develop satisfactorily in the various dimensions of his growth and development.
• Principle of interrelation: The growth and development in various dimensions like social, mental, physical, emotional, etc. are related to each other and interdependent. The growth and development in any one dimension affect the growth and development of the child in other dimensions as well.
• Development is predictable: By studying the present rate of growth and development of a child we can predict the range within which his mature development is going to fall.
• Principle of developmental direction: The development is cephalic caudal (in the direction of the longitudinal axis, head to foot) and as well as proximodistal (proceeds from the centre to the periphery, inward to outward, control of large muscles first then smaller ones). The control over the finger comes after the control of arm and hand is an example of proximodistal tendency.
• Development is spiral, not linear: The child does not develop at a constant pace but he makes advancement on stage and then takes a rest in the following period to consolidate his development. So, he turns back and then moves forward again like a spiral. 
• Growth and development is a joint product of both heredity and environment: Both heredity and environment directly or indirectly influence the process of growth and development in any dimension at all times.

Hence, we conclude that development is cumulative.

The stage of adolescence is one of the significant stages of development in human beings which helps in the transition from childhood to adulthood. It starts from about twelve years of age and continues through eighteen years. Key Points

• In the social sphere, adolescents undergo a lot of changes in their interpersonal relationships and they also begin to understand society and its diverse influences.
• Body image becomes a very important concern for adolescents. Having an appropriate figure is almost a teenage obsession so feel that everybody is looking at them and they become conscious.
• Being recognized as a popular member of a peer group is an important adolescent need.
• Adolescents often get into arguments with their parents and elders since they want to break away from their control.
• Adolescents also begin to acquire beliefs, opinions, attitudes, and stereotypes about a society based on their understanding.

Hence, we can conclude that in the adolescence stage children feel that everybody is looking at them and they become conscious.

Psychomotor activity is defined as motor/physical activity that is secondary to or dependent on a psychic component and is mostly non-goal-directed.

• It refers to the function of muscles and the origination of movements in the body under the conscious control of mental activity. It is demonstrated by motor skills such as movement, coordination, manipulation, dexterity, grace, strength, and speed. 

Key Points

•  As children grow from infancy into middle childhood, they gain better control over her large or gross muscles, which enables her to control gross movements, involving large areas of the body, e.g. walking, running, jumping, etc.
• Later, the child gains control over her smaller muscles, which enables her to obtain skills such as throwing and catching balls, writing, sewing, etc.
• A child will therefore walk before she can run, throw the ball before she is able to catch it, and scribble before she is able to write.

Hint

• Thinking is the mental process of manipulating information to draw a conclusion or to generate ideas.
• It is a higher cognitive function that allows beings to produce thought and works as a base for all cognitive activities or processes.

Hence, it becomes clear that 'Thinking' is not a psycho-motor activity.