35 Chapter 1 Learning About Children
Differences in the
Rate of Growth
and Development
All people change with time.
They grow and develop certain
skills and behaviors in expected
sequences called stages. As you just
read, many factors infl uence growth
and development. These factors
make each person develop at a
unique rate.
Some people enter a stage
earlier and some later than the
typical age. Developmental
acceleration is when a child
performs like an older child. For
example, a 30-month-old child who
speaks in long, complex sentences
is developmentally accelerated
in language. On the other hand,
developmental delay is when a
child performs like a younger child.
For example, a three-year-old who
speaks in two-word sentences
may have a developmental delay
in language. With support and
encouragement, children with
delays usually catch up with other
children over time.
People do not advance in all
areas of development at the same
rate. For example, a child may
develop at a fast rate in motor skills
and a slower rate in language usage.
A child may be developmentally
accelerated or delayed in one or
more areas. It is even possible for
a child to be delayed in one area
and accelerated in another. Some
children have a favorable heredity
and environment. These children
may be developmentally accelerated
in most areas. Sometimes
unfavorable conditions can delay
most areas of development. For
example, a child born too early
may be developmentally delayed in
most areas.
Principles of
Growth and
Development
Each person is unique, yet
people are more alike than different.
Experts study these likenesses to
fi nd patterns in the way people
generally grow and develop.
These patterns, or principles of
growth and development, do not
fi t every person exactly. However,
they are true enough to be used
as a guide when learning about
children. The following sections
describe key principles of growth
and development.
Growth and
Development Are
Constant
Many aspects of a person’s
growth and development are
unchanging. This is called constancy.
Traits that children possess today
are a good hint—but not proof—of
traits that will be present in the
future. For example, tall two-
year-olds tend to be tall adults.
Children who are good students
in elementary school are likely to
be good students in high school.
Happy, secure children tend to be
cheerful, confi dent adults.
Why is this so? There are two
reasons for constancy in growth and
development. First, traits controlled
by heredity do not change. Second,
people often live in the same