36 Part One Children in Today’s World
environment for years. For major
changes to take place in growth and
development, major changes must
take place in the environment.
Growth and
Development Are
Gradual and Continuous
Growth and development are
gradual and continuous because
changes that take place happen in
little, unbroken steps. A child does
not grow or develop overnight.
Consider a baby taking his or her
fi rst steps on a certain date. Each
day before walking, the baby grew,
the body matured, and the baby
practiced motor skills, such as
crawling and pulling to a stand.
All these small changes led to the
baby’s fi rst steps, 1-8.
In a positive way, the principle
also suggests development does not
reverse overnight. A few mistakes
or stresses usually do not cause
severe problems. As an example, a
one-day junk food binge does not
seriously harm a healthy person.
The principle also suggests that
if people do not develop when they
are supposed to, they may be able
A B
C D E
1-8
Children must practice many motor skills before they take their fi rst steps. Before walking,
children pull themselves mainly by their arms (A), creep on all fours (B), pull themselves onto
their feet (C), stand without support (D), and try standing on one foot (E).
Photographs courtesy of Carter’s; Photography by Bruce Plotkin