DCF FL CHILD CARE (CGDR) CHILD
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT |
COMPREHENSIVE FLORIDA
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026|
GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,After the first year, a baby's growth in length slows to five inches a year for the next two years and
then continues from age two or three to puberty at a rate of two to three inches
each year.
Similarities in growth: Growth proceeds from the head downward and from the center of the body
outward.
Children gain control of the head and neck first, then the arms, and finally, the
legs.
At birth, the brain, heart, and spinal cord are fully functioning to support the
infant.
As children grow, the arm and leg muscles develop, followed by the finger and
toe muscles.
Differences in growth: Some children are taller, some shorter. Some children are smaller, while others are
larger.
These differences are completely typical. Typical growth is supported by good
nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
Children do not grow at perfectly steady rates throughout childhood.
Children will experience weeks or months of slightly slower growth, followed by
growth spurts.
Differences in the amount of growth can be a source of self-consciousness for
some children.
Because each child is different and special, it is important It is important to help the children in your care understand that differences in
to help them understand this concept in order to develop growth patterns are typical.
a sense of self-acceptance.
Development definition Development refers to an increase in complexity; a change from relatively simple
to more complicated.
Progress Development usually involves a progression along a continuous sequential
pathway on which the child acquires more refined knowledge, behaviors, and
skills.
Rate varies The developmental sequence is basically the same for all children; however, the
rate of development varies from child to child
Principles of Child Development There are five principles related to the progression of general development that
children will typically experience.
, 1 - Developmental Sequence is Similar for All Children develop in relatively the same ways.
There is a typical sequence of development that occurs as a child grows.
While the sequence is similar, and the behaviors or skills emerge in the same
order, children can take more or less time with each behavior or skill.
They can move forward, regress for a short time, then move forward again.
Some children may skip a behavior or skill as they move forward.
2 - Development Proceeds from General to Specific Development progresses from a beginning point moving in a forward direction.
Just as growth of an infant proceeds from the top down and from the center of
the body to the limbs, development of behaviors and skills moves from general to
specific.
As children mature, their bodily changes occur in a sequential order and give
children new abilities.
As the brain and nervous system develop, a child's thinking (cognitive) skills and
motor skills improve.
In the Physical Development Domain, an infant's large muscles develop first and
result in the ability to wave the arms and kick the legs.
Development continues in the smaller muscles in the fingers and toes, and results
in the ability of the fingers to grasp objects and the toes to help with balance
when standing and walking.
3 - Development is Continuous In children who develop typically, behaviors and skills they have already acquired
become the basis for new behaviors and skills.
There is continuity from one phase of development to the next.
Children continue to add new behaviors and skills as they perfect their abilities to
walk, to write or draw, and to speak. For example, speech development proceeds
from gurgles and coos to chattering, then to words, then phrases, and finally,
sentences. Sentences become paragraphs and stories, both oral and written.
In order for children to write or draw, they must have developed the control of
their hands and fingers to hold a crayon and pencil. Holding a pencil develops
into writing and drawing.
The continuation of development can easily be seen in children as they mature
from age two to age twelve.
4 - Development Proceeds at Different Rates Each child is different and the rates at which individual children develop are
different.
Although the sequences for development are usually the same for all children, the
rates at which individual children reach each stage will be different.
Some children will walk at ten months of age, while others walk at eighteen
months of age.
Development is never uniform, but it is constant.
5 - All Areas of Development are Interrelated Development in children is interrelated.
There are several examples in Principles 1 through 4 that show how the body has
to grow and develop before new behaviors and skills can occur.
These examples also demonstrate the first two of five areas of development,
called domains.
Each area of development influences development in other areas.
Each of these developmental domains can be defined by one or more
characteristics.
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT |
COMPREHENSIVE FLORIDA
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026|
GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers | 100% Verified
Exam Prep and Comprehensive Rationales Included
,After the first year, a baby's growth in length slows to five inches a year for the next two years and
then continues from age two or three to puberty at a rate of two to three inches
each year.
Similarities in growth: Growth proceeds from the head downward and from the center of the body
outward.
Children gain control of the head and neck first, then the arms, and finally, the
legs.
At birth, the brain, heart, and spinal cord are fully functioning to support the
infant.
As children grow, the arm and leg muscles develop, followed by the finger and
toe muscles.
Differences in growth: Some children are taller, some shorter. Some children are smaller, while others are
larger.
These differences are completely typical. Typical growth is supported by good
nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
Children do not grow at perfectly steady rates throughout childhood.
Children will experience weeks or months of slightly slower growth, followed by
growth spurts.
Differences in the amount of growth can be a source of self-consciousness for
some children.
Because each child is different and special, it is important It is important to help the children in your care understand that differences in
to help them understand this concept in order to develop growth patterns are typical.
a sense of self-acceptance.
Development definition Development refers to an increase in complexity; a change from relatively simple
to more complicated.
Progress Development usually involves a progression along a continuous sequential
pathway on which the child acquires more refined knowledge, behaviors, and
skills.
Rate varies The developmental sequence is basically the same for all children; however, the
rate of development varies from child to child
Principles of Child Development There are five principles related to the progression of general development that
children will typically experience.
, 1 - Developmental Sequence is Similar for All Children develop in relatively the same ways.
There is a typical sequence of development that occurs as a child grows.
While the sequence is similar, and the behaviors or skills emerge in the same
order, children can take more or less time with each behavior or skill.
They can move forward, regress for a short time, then move forward again.
Some children may skip a behavior or skill as they move forward.
2 - Development Proceeds from General to Specific Development progresses from a beginning point moving in a forward direction.
Just as growth of an infant proceeds from the top down and from the center of
the body to the limbs, development of behaviors and skills moves from general to
specific.
As children mature, their bodily changes occur in a sequential order and give
children new abilities.
As the brain and nervous system develop, a child's thinking (cognitive) skills and
motor skills improve.
In the Physical Development Domain, an infant's large muscles develop first and
result in the ability to wave the arms and kick the legs.
Development continues in the smaller muscles in the fingers and toes, and results
in the ability of the fingers to grasp objects and the toes to help with balance
when standing and walking.
3 - Development is Continuous In children who develop typically, behaviors and skills they have already acquired
become the basis for new behaviors and skills.
There is continuity from one phase of development to the next.
Children continue to add new behaviors and skills as they perfect their abilities to
walk, to write or draw, and to speak. For example, speech development proceeds
from gurgles and coos to chattering, then to words, then phrases, and finally,
sentences. Sentences become paragraphs and stories, both oral and written.
In order for children to write or draw, they must have developed the control of
their hands and fingers to hold a crayon and pencil. Holding a pencil develops
into writing and drawing.
The continuation of development can easily be seen in children as they mature
from age two to age twelve.
4 - Development Proceeds at Different Rates Each child is different and the rates at which individual children develop are
different.
Although the sequences for development are usually the same for all children, the
rates at which individual children reach each stage will be different.
Some children will walk at ten months of age, while others walk at eighteen
months of age.
Development is never uniform, but it is constant.
5 - All Areas of Development are Interrelated Development in children is interrelated.
There are several examples in Principles 1 through 4 that show how the body has
to grow and develop before new behaviors and skills can occur.
These examples also demonstrate the first two of five areas of development,
called domains.
Each area of development influences development in other areas.
Each of these developmental domains can be defined by one or more
characteristics.
