An understanding of growth, maturation, and development is essential for those working with children. An awareness of the individual differences between boys and girls and how the timing and tempo of maturation can vary so significantly, can help provide more appropriate support throughout childhood.
The terms ‘growth’, ‘maturation’, and ‘development’ are often used interchangeably to describe the journey from birth to adulthood, yet each one signifies distinct biological processes that occur along the way.
Growth is characterized by an increase in overall body size or the size of particular body parts. It represents the most significant biological activity that occurs during the first two decades of life.
Maturation refers to the journey toward maturity, and its timing and pace can differ across biological systems. For instance, sexual maturity signifies a fully functional reproductive system, while skeletal maturity indicates to a fully developed skeleton. The timing and tempo of sexual and skeletal maturation can vary greatly. Timing indicates ‘when’ a specific maturation process takes place, whereas tempo represents the ‘rate’ at which maturation unfolds.
Development is more than just growth and maturation; it includes both biological and behavioural aspects. Biological development focuses on qualitative changes like cell differentiation during childhood and adolescence. In contrast, behavioural development involves changes in psychomotor (fitness, skills), cognitive (knowledge, understanding), and affective (social, relationships) domains. As children interact with society, they refine their ability to express themselves, leading to the maturation of their intellectual, physical, social, and moral competencies.
To learn more about growth maturation and development, and how it effects the fitness of children check out our online course ‘Healthy Active Kids‘.
Course Overview
Course Type
Online
Duration
4 hours
Price
£99
Healthy Active 