Human Growth and Development

The process of human growth and development is described by various set of

principles. These principles explain typical development as a predictable and
orderly process. Therefore we can easily foretell how most children will develop
even though there are differences in children�s qualities, behavior, activity
levels, and timing of developmental milestones. To understand human growth and
development, we need to understand nature and nurture, and the relationship between
the two.

Factors Which Influence Human Growth and Development

The following are a list of factors which influence human growth and development:

Heredity: Heredity and genes certainly play an important role in the transmission
of physical and social characteristics from parents to off-springs. Different
characteristics of growth and development like intelligence, aptitudes, body
structure, height, weight, color of hair and eyes are highly influenced by
heredity.

Sex: Sex is a very important factor which influences human growth and development.
There is lot of difference in growth and development between girls and boys.
Physical growth of girls in teens is faster than boys. Overall the body structure
and growth of girls are different from boys.

Socioeconomic: Socioeconomic factors definitely have some affect. It has been seen
that the children from different socioeconomic levels vary in average body size at
all ages. The upper level families being always more advanced. The most important
reasons behind this are better nutrition, better facilities, regular meals, sleep,
and exercise. Family size also influences growth rate as in big families with
limited income sometimes have children that do not get the proper nutrition and
hence the growth is affected.

Nutritional: Growth is directly related with nutrition. The human body requires an
adequate supply of calories for its normal growth and this need of requirements
vary with the phase of development. As per studies, malnutrition is referred as a
large-scale problem in many developing countries. They are more likely to be
underweight, much shorter than average, and of low height for age, known as
stunting.
If the children are malnourished, this slows their growth process. There are nine
different amino acids which are necessary for growth and absence of any one will
give rise to stunted growth. Other factors like zinc, Iodine, calcium, phosphorus
and vitamins are also essential for proper growth and deficiency of anyone can
affect the normal growth and development of the body.

Hormones: There are a large number of endocrine glands present inside our body.
These glands secrete one or more hormones directly into the bloodstream. These
hormones are capable of raising or lowering the activity level of the body or some
organs of the body. Hormones are considered to be a growth supporting substance.
These hormones play an important role in regulating the process of growth and
development.

Pollution: According to studies, air pollution not only affects the respiratory
organs but also have harmful effects on human growth.
Indoor pollution or the pollution from housing conditions can result in ill health
which can negatively impact human growth and development. For example, lead
exposure from deteriorated lead-based paint in older housing can be very harmful.
Lead is very harmful for children as it simply gets immersed into the growing
bodies of children and obstructs with the normal development of brain and other
organs and systems.

Race: Racial factors also influence height, weight, color, features, and body
constitution of a human being. The body growth and development differences show a
relationship with varied cultural groups. For example a child of black race will be
black, their height, their hair and eye color, facial structure are all governed by
the same race.

Factors That Affect Growth and Development in Children

By Mahak Arora - July 17, 2019
Factors That Affect Growth and Development in Children
In this Article

How Are Growth and Development Defined?

10 Factors That Influence the Growth and Development of a Child
How children grow and develop depend on both internal and external environmental
factors, some of which we have no control over. Having a good understanding of what
children need at each stage of their growth and development helps us raise them
better.

How Are Growth and Development Defined?

Although the terms growth and development are used synonymously, they have
different meanings biologically. Growth refers to the incremental changes in
physical characteristics such as height, weight, size, etc., while development
refers to qualitative changes to growth in an orderly and meaningful fashion which
results in maturity. Growth and development contribute to each other, are
inseparable, and occur simultaneously. For example, most babies, by the time they
grow up to be 8 months old, can weigh around 8 to 10 kilograms and can sit up.

10 Factors That Influence the Growth and Development of a Child

Nature and nurture both contribute to the growth and development of children.
Although what�s endowed by nature is constant, nurture tends to make a big
difference too. Here are a few factors affecting children�s growth and development.

1. Heredity
Heredity is the transmission of physical characteristics from parents to children
through their genes. It influences all aspects of physical appearance such as
height, weight, body structure, the colour of the eye, the texture of the hair, and
even intelligence and aptitudes. Diseases and conditions such as heart disease,
diabetes, obesity, etc., can also be passed through genes, thereby affecting the
growth and development of the child adversely. However, environmental factors and
nurturing can bring the best out of the already present qualities in the genes.

2. Environment
The environment plays a critical role in the development of children and it
represents the sum total of physical and psychological stimulation the child
receives. Some of the environmental factors influencing early childhood development
involve the physical surroundings and geographical conditions of the place the
child lives in, as well his social environment and relationships with family and
peers. It is easy to understand that a well-nurtured child does better than a
deprived one; the environment children are constantly immersed in contributes to
this. A good school and a loving family builds in children strong social and
interpersonal skills, which will enable them to excel in other areas such as
academics and extracurricular activities. This will, of course, be different for
children who are raised in stressful environments.
3. Sex
Sex of the Child

The sex of the child is another major factor affecting the physical growth and
development of a child. Boys and girls grow in different ways, especially nearing
puberty. Boys tend to be taller and physically stronger than girls. However, girls
tend to mature faster during adolescence, while boys mature over a longer period of
time. The physical structure of their bodies also has differences which make boys
more athletic and suited for activities that require physical rigour. Their
temperaments also vary, making them show interest in different things.

4. Exercise and Health

Exercise and Health

The word exercise here does not mean physical exercise as a discipline or children
deliberately engaging in physical activities knowing it would help them grow.
Exercise here refers to the normal play time and sports activities which help the
body gain an increase in muscular strength and put on bone mass. Proper exercise
helps children grow well and reach milestones on time or sooner. Exercise also
keeps them healthy and fights off diseases by strengthening the immune system,
especially if they play outside. This is because outdoor play exposes them to
microbes that help them build resistance and prevent allergies.

5. Hormones
Hormones belong to the endocrine system and influence the various functions of our
bodies. They are produced by different glands that are situated in specific parts
of the body to secrete hormones that control body functions. Their timely
functioning is critical for normal physical growth and development in children.
Imbalances in the functioning of hormone-secreting glands can result in growth
defects, obesity, behavioural problems and other diseases. During puberty, the
gonads produce sex hormones which control the development of the sex organs and the
appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in boys and girls.

6. Nutrition
Nutrition is a critical factor in growth as everything the body needs to build and
repair itself comes from the food we eat. Malnutrition can cause deficiency
diseases that adversely affect the growth and development of children. On the other
hand, overeating can lead to obesity and health problems in the long run, such as
diabetes and heart disease. A balanced diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals,
proteins, carbohydrates and fats is essential for the development of the brain and
body.

7. Familial Influence
Families have the most profound impact in nurturing a child and determining the
ways in which they develop psychologically and socially. Whether they are raised by
their parents, grandparents or foster care, they need basic love, care and courtesy
to develop as healthy functional individuals. The most positive growth is seen when
families invest time, energy and love in the development of the child through
activities, such as reading to them, playing with them and having deep meaningful
conversations. Families that abuse or neglect children would affect their positive
development. These children may end up as individuals who have poor social skills
and difficulty bonding with other people as adults. Helicopter parenting also has
negative effects as they render children dependent on the parents even as young
adults and unable to deal with difficulties in life on their own

8. Geographical Influences
Where you live also has a great influence on how your children turn out to be. The
schools they attend, the neighbourhood they live in, the opportunities offered by
the community and their peer circles are some of the social factors affecting a
child�s development. Living in an enriching community that has parks, libraries and
community centres for group activities and sports all play a role in developing the
child�s skills, talents, and behaviour. Uninteresting communities can push some
children to not go outside often but play video games at home instead. Even the
weather of a place influences children in the form of bodily rhythms, allergies and
other health conditions.

9. Socio-Economic Status
The socio-economic status of a family determines the quality of the opportunity a
child gets. Studying in better schools that are more expensive definitely has
benefits in the long run. Well-off families can also offer better learning
resources for their children and they afford special aid if the kids need it.
Children from poorer families may not have access to educational resources and good
nutrition to reach their full potential. They may also have working parents who
work too many hours and cannot invest enough quality time in their development.

10. Learning and Reinforcement

Learning involves much more than schooling. It is also concerned with building the
child up mentally, intellectually, emotionally, and socially so they operate as
healthy functional individuals in the society. This is where the development of the
mind takes place and the child can gain some maturity. Reinforcement is a component
of learning where an activity or exercise is repeated and refined to solidify the
lessons learned. An example is playing a musical instrument; they get better at
playing it as they practice playing the instrument. Therefore, any lesson that is
taught has to be repeated until the right results are obtained.

Although nature contributes much to the growth and development of children, nurture
contributes much more. As mentioned earlier, some of these factors may not be
controllable, and you�ll have to make do with what you have. But there are certain
things you can definitely ensure for your child. This includes ensuring that your
child gets enough rest every day, because his development is heavily dependent on
the amount of sleep he gets. Pay close attention to your child�s nutritional and
exercise levels, as these too play an important role in promoting your child�s
timely and healthy growth and development.