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Meaning of Growth and Development
Growth and development are frequently used interchangeably. They are, in fact, conceptually distinct. Growth and development do not happen on their own.
Meaning of Growth
Growth refers to quantitative changes in size, such as changes in height, weight, size, internal organs, and so on. As a person grows, old characteristics such as baby fat, hair, and teeth, among others, fade away, while new characteristics such as facial hair emerge.
When a person reaches maturity, he or she develops a second set of teeth, major and secondary sex features, and so on. All components of the personality undergo similar adjustments. The body grows increasingly larger, taller, and heavier during childhood. The term growth is used to describe this transformation. Changes in body proportions, as well as overall size and weight, accompany growth.
Thus, the phrase growth refers to an increase in bodily dimensions. The pace of growth, however, varies from one portion of the body to the next.
Meaning of Development
Development, on the other hand, refers to qualitative changes that occur along with quantitative changes in growth. It can be defined as a gradual progression of organised, coherent changes. The term progressive refers to directional changes that lead ahead rather than backward.
Orderly and coherent imply that there is a clear relationship between the changes that are taking place and those that have preceded or will follow them. Development refers to the changes that occur in an organism from birth to death, but more specifically to the progressive changes that occur from birth to maturity.
Thus, development can be defined as a series of general changes in an individual as a result of the creation of modified structures and functions as a result of interactions and exchanges between the organism and its environment.
Growing involves becoming larger, taller, and heavier. Changes in physical proportions are also included. However, development is a broad notion that embraces all aspects of human nature, including intellectual, emotional, social, moral, and physical well-being.
