PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
List the six 'Principles of Human Development' - ANSWER 1. Development requires change
2. Early Development is essential for later development
3. The pattern of Development is orderly and predictable
4. Development requires maturation and learning
5. Growth and Development are continuous
6. Rates of development are unique
Explain 'Development requires change' and give an example - ANSWER The changes occurring to an
individual usually relates to physical development. Individuals also experience changes in social,
emotional and intellectual development. During childhood change is usually positive and progressive and
permanent
e.g. Physical changes - size, proportions and bodily functions
Explain 'Early Development is essential for Later Development' and give an example - ANSWER As a child
develops, they add to skills that they have already gained and these new skills become the basis for
further mastery of skills
e.g. a child must learn to stand before they can walk
Explain 'The pattern of development is orderly and predictable' and give an example - ANSWER The
direction of development occurs from the top to the bottom of the body (cephalocaudal law) andd from
the center to the extremities (proximodistal law). Children will learn general and simple skills before
specific and complex skills
e.g. General to specific - learn to grasp an object with whole hand before able to pick something up with
forefinger and thumb
Simple to complex - able to walk before capable of walking up stairs
Explain 'Development requires maturation and learning' and give an example - ANSWER A child must
mature to a certain point and have learnt basic skills before they can gain a new skill
e.g. a 4 month old cannot use language to communicate as the brain has not developed enough to allow
them to speak. By 18 months the brain has matured enough to allow the child to say and understand
words
Explain 'Growth and development are continuous' and give an example - ANSWER Development
continues from conception to death
e.g. child develops at a fast rate during childhood and continue to develop through teenage years and
into adulthood
Explain 'Rates of Development are unique' and give an example - ANSWER Each child is different and the
rate in which individual children develop is different
e.g. some children take their first steps and continue to walk, others take longer to progress
DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH SOLUTIONS 2024
List the six 'Principles of Human Development' - ANSWER 1. Development requires change
2. Early Development is essential for later development
3. The pattern of Development is orderly and predictable
4. Development requires maturation and learning
5. Growth and Development are continuous
6. Rates of development are unique
Explain 'Development requires change' and give an example - ANSWER The changes occurring to an
individual usually relates to physical development. Individuals also experience changes in social,
emotional and intellectual development. During childhood change is usually positive and progressive and
permanent
e.g. Physical changes - size, proportions and bodily functions
Explain 'Early Development is essential for Later Development' and give an example - ANSWER As a child
develops, they add to skills that they have already gained and these new skills become the basis for
further mastery of skills
e.g. a child must learn to stand before they can walk
Explain 'The pattern of development is orderly and predictable' and give an example - ANSWER The
direction of development occurs from the top to the bottom of the body (cephalocaudal law) andd from
the center to the extremities (proximodistal law). Children will learn general and simple skills before
specific and complex skills
e.g. General to specific - learn to grasp an object with whole hand before able to pick something up with
forefinger and thumb
Simple to complex - able to walk before capable of walking up stairs
Explain 'Development requires maturation and learning' and give an example - ANSWER A child must
mature to a certain point and have learnt basic skills before they can gain a new skill
e.g. a 4 month old cannot use language to communicate as the brain has not developed enough to allow
them to speak. By 18 months the brain has matured enough to allow the child to say and understand
words
Explain 'Growth and development are continuous' and give an example - ANSWER Development
continues from conception to death
e.g. child develops at a fast rate during childhood and continue to develop through teenage years and
into adulthood
Explain 'Rates of Development are unique' and give an example - ANSWER Each child is different and the
rate in which individual children develop is different
e.g. some children take their first steps and continue to walk, others take longer to progress
