Concept Of Child Development

Growth and development are two interlinked processes. Knowledge in psychological

growth and development allows teachers to understand the conceptual development
which are achieved by children of various ages. It will enable teachers to plan and
choose appropriate reading materials according to the various levels of difficulties.
Teachers need to know the interest level of children of various ages in order for an
effective student participation.

Santrock in Haliza Hamzah and Joy N. Samuel. (2011) defines development

as a change in the biological pattern, individual cognitive and socio emotions from
germination till the end of life.

Karl E. Garrison in Azlia Abu Bakar. (2005) mentions developments result from
interelation between physical development and learning. All these developments
either structural, behavioral and personality skills are universal and according to
certain natural order. In addition, Paul Eggan and Don Kauchak in Mohd. Ahmad
Sharani (2005) opines that development is a continoues and permanent change in a
person as a result of learning, experience and maturity.

In short, Mok Soon Sang (2008) explains that the development is a qualitative
change that can not be measured quantitatively, but can be seen from the new
attributes that are different from an earlier stage.

Growth
Human growth and development or human enrichment is the focus of the study in
developmental psychology. Developmental psychologists, study the aspects of
human growth and development to see the connection between the factors that
influence them which are genes and the environment. They often try to determine
empirically whether genes or environment has more influence on the growth and
human development. The debate is still going on till this day.

Development

The development in a human is a change that is qualitative. These changes cannot

be measured but clearly takes place, if compared to an earlier stage, for example,
changes in human hair from black to white in the process of aging. The development
is an aspect of the changes experienced by individuals that are qualitative, cannot be
measured but visibly changed over time. For example, at the age of 4 years, Fatin
has not been able to draw a cat, but at the age of 7, she can.. Learning can occur
because Fatin has experienced in terms of cognitive development (achieving
appropriate levels of readiness) and there is a readiness in hand muscles
(psychomotor development).