Components and Stages of Human Development

COMPONENTS AND STAGES OF HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS LESSON

• Components of Human Growth & Development

• Stages of Human Growth & Development

What Are the Components of Human Growth and Development?

There are four basic components of human growth and development:

• Physical. The growth and development of the body’s muscles, bones, energy systems, and nervous system.

• Cognitive. Our ability to interpret and process information and the introduction and establishment of a person’s self-concept or self-awareness.

• Social. The development of relationships with peers, friends, relatives, adults, and others in the “outside world.”

• Emotional. Our ability to manage and regulate emotions such as fear, pleasure, anger, and empathy.

The Concept of “Age”

What do we mean when we use the term “age” in the context of human growth and development?

• Chronological age. Age is measured in years, months, and days (that is, the standard use of the term “age”).

• Skeletal age. Age is indicated by the physical maturity of the skeleton.

• Developmental age. Developmental age includes the interaction between the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of the individual.

The Stages of Human Development

The stages of human development refer to the division of human growth and development into four basic stages, each with its own characteristics and a particular relationship to gender:

• Infancy/Toddler

• Childhood

• Puberty/Adolescence

• Adulthood

The Infancy/Toddler Stage

APPROXIMATELY BIRTH TO TWO TO THREE YEARS

• Infancy—the period between birth and one year of age—marks the time of the most significant growth in humans, relative to all the other stages.

• The head and chest grow rapidly, allowing the brain, heart, and lungs to develop quickly. The bones harden considerably during this time.

• During this early period, we also experience considerable muscular development and considerable gains in our ability to perform a huge range of “motor skills” such as crawling, grasping objects, walking, and running.

The Childhood Stage

APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO TEN YEARS

• In middle childhood, the body undergoes a stabilizing period that allows the child to begin to establish an important base of motor skills.

• Because the human body is in such a rapid state of growth and development during childhood and because this is often the age at which children are introduced to organized sports or games, those who work with children are challenged by how to accommodate a wide range of sizes, abilities, and developmental levels in the same unified activity.

• Child development experts have identified the important role of unstructured, imaginative play during this formative period—including active movement with no time pressures or expected outcomes—in benefiting children’s overall healthy development.

The Puberty/Adolescence Stage

APPROXIMATELY ELEVEN TO EIGHTEEN YEARS

• Puberty usually takes place between the ages of ten and fifteen in both sexes but, in general, occurs slightly earlier in females.

• During puberty, a whole range of physiological changes take place, as both genders begin to grow into sexual maturity. Hormones from the pituitary gland cause the sex organs to grow and develop, making them capable of reproduction.

• It is a time of considerable psychological adjustment, as many changes brought on by puberty take on a social and behavioral context.

• In addition, new social relationships with peer groups are being formed that can positively or negatively influence a person’s sense of self, values, and choice of activities.

(4) The Adulthood Stage

APPROXIMATELY EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

• Although most of the body’s growth has taken place by adulthood, adults do go through a wide range of physical changes as they grow older:

• Relatively large gains in weight; • A reduced capacity to take in and utilize oxygen;

• An increase in blood pressure and resting heart rate;

• A weakening of stress-bearing joints, such as the knees and hips.

• The importance of regular exercise and paying attention to diet may be overlooked.

• With regular exercise, a healthy diet, and a positive outlook on life, most adults can enjoy the benefits of physical activity and healthy living well into old age.

SUMMARY

• The four basic components of human growth and development are: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional.

• Human growth and development continue throughout a person’s life, taking place at different rates during four different stages: infancy/toddler; childhood; puberty/adolescence; and adulthood.

• The term “age” has different meanings when it comes to talking about human growth and development and readiness to engage in physical activity and sport (i.e., chronological age, skeletal age, and developmental age).