Learn about the comparison between growth and development in a child.
Comparison # Growth:
1. Growth does not continue throughout life. It comes to a standstill at eighteen or twelve years of age among girls and at twenty two years of age among boys.
2. Growth stops when maturity has been attained.
3. The term growth is used in purely physical sense. It generally refers to an increase in size, length, height and weight.
4. Changes in the quantitative aspects come into the domain of growth.
5. Growth refers to changes in the particular aspects of the body and behaviour of an organism.
6. Growth may or may not bring development. A child may grow (in terms of weight) by becoming fat but this growth may not bring any functional improvement or development.
7. The changes produced by growth are the subject of measurement. They may be quantified and are observable in nature.
8. Growth is a part or an aspect of developmental process of human beings.
Comparison # Development:
1. Development means a progressive series of changes in an orderly, coherent pattern till the end of life.
2. Development does not stop e.g., it does not end with the attainment of maturity.
3. Development implies over all changes in shape, form or structure resulting in improved working or functioning.
4. It indicates the changes in the quality or character rather than in quantitative aspects.
5. Development may imply the changes in the organism as a whole and does not list the changes in parts.
6. Development is also possible without growth as we see in the cases of some children that they do not gain in terms of height, weight or size but, they do experience functional improvement or development in physical, social, emotional or intellectual aspects.
7. Development implies improvement in functioning and behaviour and hence brings qualitative changes which are difficult to be measured directly.
8. Development is a wider and comprehensive term. It includes growth and covers all those changes which take place within the organism. It includes physical as well as intellectual emotional, social, aestheticacter) aspect of development.