What are the factors that contribute to the variation in growth patterns seen in young children?

Factors Affecting The Growth And Development Of Children

When raising children,there are many factorsfrom family and environment to genes and biology that influence their growth and development. It is important to understand these factors to help your children achieve a healthy growth and development pattern.Children’s proper growth and development is the most common topic of discussion in the PTMs of Montessori City of Industry, CA, so, a group of teachers is sharing below the major factors affecting the growth and development of children.

Heredity :

Heredity is the biological process of transmission of physical characteristics from parents to children through genes.It strongly influences many aspects of the physical appearances of children such as their height, weight, body structure,the color of the eye, the texture of the hair, and even the intelligence and aptitude skills.Many diseases like heart problems, diabetes, obesity, blood pressure can also transmit through genes, thereby affecting the growth pattern of childrenadversely.

Environment :

The environment is a major factor that plays a crucial role in the development of children and it represents the overall physical and psychological stimulation they receive.The physical surroundings and the geographical conditions of the place the child lives in, his social environment and relationships with family and peers come under the environmental factors that influence early childhood development in a major way.The safe and secure environment of the Montessori City of Industry, CA as well as the love and care of family contribute positivelytochildren’s healthy development.

Gender :

The gender of the child is a very common but important factor affecting the physical growth and development of a child. The growth pattern of girls and boys is quite different like boys tend to be taller and physically stronger than girls on the other hand girls tend to mature faster during their adolescencethan the boys.

Hormones :

You must be knowing that hormones belong to the endocrine system and influence the various functions of our bodies.Hormones secreted from different glands that are situated in specific parts of our body and control many of our body functions.The proper functioning of these hormones plays a major role in the normal physical growth and development of the children. If these hormone-secreting glandscannot function properly, children may suffer from growth defects, obesity, behavioral problems, and some other diseases.

Exercise :

In Montessori City of Industry, CA, children are encouraged to participate in different physical activitiesas thiswill help themto gain their muscular strength and put on bone mass.It has been observed that kids who engage in different physical activities, attain developmental milestones on time or sooner.

Nutrition :

Nutrition, maybe the most important ofthe lot, has the most profound impact on children’s healthy growth and development.Abalanced diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, provides everything that a child’s body needs to grow properly. Malnutrition can cause deficiency diseases affecting their growth and developmentin a major way.On the other hand,overeating can also lead to obesity and many other health problems in the long run such as diabetes and heart-related problems.

Apart from the above-mentioned factors, family and geographical influence, socioeconomic status of the child and education play a major role in children’s growth and development.

A child's growth and development can be divided into four periods:

• Infancy
• Preschool years
• Middle childhood years
• Adolescence

Soon after birth, an infant normally loses about 5% to 10% of their birth weight. By about age 2 weeks, an infant should start to gain weight and grow quickly.

By age 4 to 6 months, an infant's weight should be double their birth weight. During the second half of the first year of life, growth is not as rapid. Between ages 1 and 2, a toddler will gain only about 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms). Weight gain will remain at about 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms) per year between ages 2 to 5.

Between ages 2 to 10 years, a child will grow at a steady pace. A final growth spurt begins at the start of puberty, sometime between ages 9 to 15.

The child's nutrient needs correspond with these changes in growth rates. An infant needs more calories in relation to size than a preschooler or school-age child needs. Nutrient needs increase again as a child gets close to adolescence.

A healthy child will follow an individual growth curve. However, the nutrient intake may be different for each child. Provide a diet with a wide variety of foods that is suited to the child's age.

Healthy eating habits should begin during infancy. This can help prevent diseases such as high blood pressure and obesity.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND DIET

Poor nutrition can cause problems with a child's intellectual development. A child with a poor diet may be tired and unable to learn at school. Also, poor nutrition can make the child more likely to get sick and miss school. Breakfast is very important. Children may feel tired and unmotivated if they do not eat a good breakfast.

The relationship between breakfast and improved learning has been clearly shown. There are government programs in place to make sure each child has at least one healthy, balanced meal a day. This meal is usually breakfast. Programs are available in poor and underserved areas of the United States.

Talk to your health care provider if you have concerns about your child's growth and development.

Related topics include:

• Developmental milestones record - 4 months
• Developmental milestones record - 9 months
• Developmental milestones record - 12 months
• Developmental milestones record - 18 months
• Developmental milestones record - 2 years
• Developmental milestones record - 3 years
• Developmental milestones record - 4 years
• Developmental milestones record - 5 years
• Preschooler development
• School-age children development
• Puberty and adolescence

Diet - intellectual development

Onigbanjo MT, Feigelman S. The first year. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.

Parks EP, Shaikhkhalil A, Sainath NN, Mitchell JA, Brownell JN, Stallings VA. Feeding healthy infants, children, and adolescents. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 56.

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the factors that contribute to child growth and development?

What are the growth patterns in early childhood?

What are the three major factors that impacts a child's development?

What factor that affects the most in the development of the child?