NR22
2
WEEK
5
EDAPT development and Health Promotion across childhood
Introduction to Development
Understanding normal growth and development helps the
healthcare professional predict, detect, and prevent
problems that may impact a client’s health.
Growth is described as the physical changes that occur from
the prenatal period through older adulthood. It may
demonstrate advancement or deterioration. Development
refers to the biological, cognitive, and emotional changes that
begin at conception and continue throughout the life span. It
is dynamic and progressive.
However, some diseases can delay or regress development.
ability to progress successfully influences the client’s overall
health. If a client experiences failure in a developmental
phase, they will struggle to complete subsequent phases. If
a client experiences success, health is promoted.
Biophysical development is how human bodies grow and
change over time. Assessing height, weight, and head
circumference are examples of biophysical development.
Psychosocial development describes human development
based on personality, thinking, and behavior. Cognitive
development is how an individual learns to think and makes
sense of the world from childhood through adulthood. Moral
development refers to changes in an individual’s thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors that influence beliefs about what is
right and wrong.
Cephalocaudal development means growth is fastest at the
top of the body. Proximodistal development means growth
starts at the center.
Biophysical Theories
, • Biophysical development is how human bodies grow and
change over time. Each child’s pattern of growth is
unique and directed by genetic activity as well as
environmental factors. For example, genes direct the
height of an individual, but growth is only maximized if
environmental conditions are acceptable. Each child’s
pattern of growth is unique and directed by genetic
activity as well as environmental factors. For example,
genes direct the height of an individual, but growth is
only maximized if environmental conditions are
acceptable. Fetal organ development follows a specific
order. Growth is both cephalocaudal and proximodistal.
• Cephalocaudal—head and brain develop faster than
arm and leg coordination
• Proximodistal—organ systems in the trunk of the body
develop before the arms and legs
The most common biophysical theory used by healthcare
professionals is Gesell’s Theory of Development.
Psychosocial Theories
Psychosocial development describes human development
based on personality, thinking, and behavior. These
theories explain development as primarily unconscious
conflicts that are influenced by emotion.
The most common psychosocial theory used by healthcare
professionals is Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial
Development.
Cognitive Theories
Cognitive development is how an individual learns to think
and makes sense of the world from childhood through
adulthood.
The most common cognitive theory used by healthcare
professionals is Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development.
Moral Theories
Moral development refers to changes in an individual’s
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that influence beliefs
about what is right and wrong. Moral development governs
, how we interact with others.
2
WEEK
5
EDAPT development and Health Promotion across childhood
Introduction to Development
Understanding normal growth and development helps the
healthcare professional predict, detect, and prevent
problems that may impact a client’s health.
Growth is described as the physical changes that occur from
the prenatal period through older adulthood. It may
demonstrate advancement or deterioration. Development
refers to the biological, cognitive, and emotional changes that
begin at conception and continue throughout the life span. It
is dynamic and progressive.
However, some diseases can delay or regress development.
ability to progress successfully influences the client’s overall
health. If a client experiences failure in a developmental
phase, they will struggle to complete subsequent phases. If
a client experiences success, health is promoted.
Biophysical development is how human bodies grow and
change over time. Assessing height, weight, and head
circumference are examples of biophysical development.
Psychosocial development describes human development
based on personality, thinking, and behavior. Cognitive
development is how an individual learns to think and makes
sense of the world from childhood through adulthood. Moral
development refers to changes in an individual’s thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors that influence beliefs about what is
right and wrong.
Cephalocaudal development means growth is fastest at the
top of the body. Proximodistal development means growth
starts at the center.
Biophysical Theories
, • Biophysical development is how human bodies grow and
change over time. Each child’s pattern of growth is
unique and directed by genetic activity as well as
environmental factors. For example, genes direct the
height of an individual, but growth is only maximized if
environmental conditions are acceptable. Each child’s
pattern of growth is unique and directed by genetic
activity as well as environmental factors. For example,
genes direct the height of an individual, but growth is
only maximized if environmental conditions are
acceptable. Fetal organ development follows a specific
order. Growth is both cephalocaudal and proximodistal.
• Cephalocaudal—head and brain develop faster than
arm and leg coordination
• Proximodistal—organ systems in the trunk of the body
develop before the arms and legs
The most common biophysical theory used by healthcare
professionals is Gesell’s Theory of Development.
Psychosocial Theories
Psychosocial development describes human development
based on personality, thinking, and behavior. These
theories explain development as primarily unconscious
conflicts that are influenced by emotion.
The most common psychosocial theory used by healthcare
professionals is Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial
Development.
Cognitive Theories
Cognitive development is how an individual learns to think
and makes sense of the world from childhood through
adulthood.
The most common cognitive theory used by healthcare
professionals is Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development.
Moral Theories
Moral development refers to changes in an individual’s
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that influence beliefs
about what is right and wrong. Moral development governs
, how we interact with others.
