THE CHILD AND
ADOLESCENT LEARNER
AND LEARNING
PRINCIPLES
MS. GRACE PANGILINAN GULAPA, LPT
INSTRUCTOR
Topic 1: Overview of Human Development,
Principles of Development and Basic Concepts
Lesson objectives:
This lesson will help students to:
Define Human Development using your own words
Distinguish two approaches to human development
Evaluate the salient points between Principles of Development and
Principles of Heredity
Explore on the origin of the Principles of Heredity of Gregor Mendel
Discuss the basic concepts related to child and adolescent development
Identify the implications of understanding child development in working
with children in education and other contexts
Let’s Analyze:
Think of a young boy and young girl in your family or neighborhood.
Each of them is a bundle of possibilities.
Describe them before and who will they possibly be into adulthood.
Will there be anything in common in the pattern of development of
those two kids? If yes, what?
Will there be differences in their development, ex. pace or rate of
development? What and Why?
Do you believe that those two kids will continue to develop even in
adulthood? Or will they stop developing in adulthood?
What is Human Development?
Human Development is a lifelong growth process comprised of stages. Each
stage of development has markers which indicate students’ abilities to
perform various tasks.
It is the pattern of movement or change that begins at conception and
continues through the life span.
It includes growth and decline.
It refers to the biological and psychological development of human being
throughout the lifespan. It consists of the development from infancy,
childhood, and adolescence to adulthood. (Wikipedia)
Two Approaches to Human Development
Traditional- Extensive change from birth to adolescence, little or no
change in adulthood and decline in late old age.
Life-span- Even in adulthood, developmental change takes place as it
does during childhood.
Principles of Human Development
[Link]
A. Development is continuous
A. Development is continuous
The process of growth and development continues from conception till
the individual reaches maturity. Development of both physical and
mental traits continues gradually until these traits reach their
maximum growth. Development does not end.
B. Development is gradual
[Link]
B. Development is gradual
It does not come all on a sudden. It is also cumulative in nature.
Children won’t develop into pimply teenager overnight, buds do not
blossom suddenly, seed do not germinate overnight. It takes weeks,
months and years for these to undergo change that result in the display
of developmental characteristics.
C. Development is sequential
o Most psychologists agree that development is sequential or
orderly. Every species, whether animal or human follows a
pattern of development peculiar to it. This pattern in general is
the same for all individuals. The child crawls before he creeps,
stand before he walks and babbles before he talks.
Proximodistal Pattern
o Proximodistal pattern- occurs from the center or core of the
body in an outward direction. Development proceeds from
near to far- outward from central axis of the body toward the
extremities. e.g. development of muscular control of the trunk
and arms relative to the hands and fingers
Cephalocaudal Pattern
o Cephalocaudal pattern- is where the greatest development
takes place at the top of the body i.e. the head, and physical
development moves gradually downwards e.g. neck,
shoulders, trunk, etc.
D. Rate of Development varies from
person to person
o Rate of development is not uniform. Individuals differ in the
rate of growth and development. Boys and girls have different
development rates. Each part of the body has its own
particular rate of growth. There are period of great intensity
and equilibrium and there are periods of imbalance.
E. Development Proceeds from General
to Specific
o Development Proceeds from General to Specific. In all areas of
development, general activity always precedes specific activity.
Ex. The fetus moves its whole body but is incapable of making specific
responses. With respect to emotional behavior, infants approach strange
and unusual objects with some sort of general fear response. Later, their
fears become more specific and elicit different kinds of behavior such as
crying, turning away and hiding.
F. Most Traits are Correlated in
Development
o Generally, it is seen that the child whose mental development
is above average, is also superior in so many other aspects
like health, sociability, and special aptitudes.
G. Growth and Development is a Product
of both heredity and environment
o Development is influenced both by heredity and environment.
Both are responsible for human growth and development.
H. Development is Predictable
o The difference in physiological and psychological potentialities
can be predicted by observation and psychological tests.
I. Development brings about structural
and functional changes
o The development of a person is manifested physically and
behaviorally.
J. There is a constant interaction
between all factors of development
o Development in one area is highly related to development in
other areas.
Ex. A child who has a good health can be active socially and
intellectually.
The Principles of Development
Principles of Heredity (Johann Gregor Mendel (1822-1884,
the Father of Genetics)
o The key principles of Mendelian inheritance are summed up
by Mendel’s three laws: the Law of Independent Assortment,
Law of Dominance, and Law of Segregation
1. Law of Independent Assortment
Law of Independent Assortment - Genes for different traits
are sorted separately from one another so that the inheritance of
one trait is not dependent on inheritance of another.
2. Law of Dominance
Law of Dominance- An organism with alternate forms of gene
will express the form that is dominant.
3. Law of Segragation
Law of Segregation- Each inherited trait is defined by a gene
pair. Parental genes are randomly separated to the sex cells so
that sex cells contain only one gene of the pair. Offspring
therefore inherit one genetic allele from each parent when sex
cells unite in fertilization.
Attachments: for more info search on “What are the three
principles of heredity? “[Link]
A. Basic Concepts
CHILD
o Everyone under the age of 18, unless other applicable law,
maturity is attained earlier (The Convention on the Rights of
the Child)
o A young human being below the age of puberty or below the
legal age of majority
Child and Adolescent Development
Child Development
Concerns the process of growth and maturation of the human
individual from conception to adulthood
Child and Adolescent Development
o Refers to the process of growth and maturation of the human
individual from conception to adulthood
Growth
Pertains to the physical change and increase in size.
Can be measured quantitatively.
Indicators of growth are height, weight, bone size and
definition
The growth rate is rapid during the prenatal, neonatal,
infancy, adolescence
Slows during childhood Minimal during adulthood
Development
Overall changes and functional progress of the body
The pattern of biological, cognitive, and socio emotional changes that
begins at conception and continues throughout the lifespan. Most
development involves growth, although it eventually involves decay
(dying)
Involves increase in the complexity of function and skill progression
The capacity and skill of a person to adapt to the environment
Pertains to the behavioral aspect of growth
Maturation
Consists of changes that occur relatively independent of the
environment
Usually considered to be genetically programmed- the result
of heredity
State of the body and readiness to perform a behavior
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
It is wherein the child acquires new skills and information with
the help or assistance of an adult or an adult peer.
Heredity
The process of transmitting biological traits from parents to
offspring through genes, the basic units of heredity.
Environment
Refers to the surrounding condition that influences growth and
development.
All the external physical and social conditions and events that
can affect us, from crowded living quarters to stimulating
social interactions.
Theory
Ideas based on observations and other kinds of evidences
which are organized in a systematic manner.
Used to explain and predict the behaviors and development of
children and adults.
Ethological Theory
Views development in terms of evolutionary concepts.
Formative Assessment
Kindly proceed to your LEARNING PATH for your Activities,
Quizzes and Assignments.
