Early Years Growth and Development

During this assignment it is aimed to explore the subject of growth and development in the early years, this will be done by using research regarding the chosen topic of identical twins. The differences between growth and development as well as the relationship between the two concepts will be examined throughout, to support this examination the stages and patterns of the growth and development of identical twins, concentrating on the physical aspects of the topic in particular, will be discussed and analysed by comparison with the developmental norms using a variety of theories, current research and relative legislation and Early Years frameworks.
The topic of growth and development is very important during the early years as it takes place from the very beginning before a child is born, and is continually occurring as children increase in age, “Children grow and develop from the moment they are conceived until they reach adulthood” (Lee, 1990, p.2)
In the Oxford dictionary the word growth is defined as – “The process of growing”. Lee (1990, p.2) states, “To grow is to get bigger”. In Early Years the term growth often refers to the physical changes in children. Professionals such as midwives, health visitors and medical practitioners use methods such as scans (during prenatal stages) and charts including centile charts (after a child is born) to record and monitor the quantitative changes in children.
“health professionals commonly use the Denver screening checklist and development centile charts, in order to record the child’s growth and weight” (Macleod-Brudenell, 2004, p.69)
The Oxford dictionary defines the word development as – “A new stage in a changing situation”. Lee (1990, p.2) states “To develop is to change in form as one grows”. In relation to Early Years this refers to the occurring physical, intellectual, language, emotional and social changes which are hugely evident and permanently ongoing as a child grows. These stages of qualitative change

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