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WHAT IS DEVELOPMENT?

Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change, or the addition of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components.

The word development also widely refers to a specified state of advancement or growth .It could also be used to describe a new and advanced idea or product or an event that constitutes a new stage under changing circumstance.

Generally, the term development describes good change. 

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

The biological, psychological, and emotional changes that take place in people between conception and the end of puberty are referred to as child development. 

Early childhood, middle childhood, and late childhood (preadolescence) are the three stages of childhood.

1. Early childhood - Early childhood ranges from infancy to the age of 6. Development is important during this time because it is when many of life's milestones occur, including the acquisition of first words, how to crawl, and how to walk.

2. Middle childhood - Some people believe that the years between 6 and 12 known as middle childhood/preadolescence—are the most important ones in a child's life. Children starts to show more independence from parents and family, understands more about his or her place in the world, pays more attention to friendship or teamwork, they want to be liked and accepted by friends.

3. Adolescence– It is a period of life that normally begins around the time that puberty takes hold, with milestones like menarche and spermarche appearing between the ages of 12 and 13. Ages 10 to 19 have been included in the World Health Organization's definition [2].[3] The individual human advances through growth from dependence to rising autonomy. Although it is a continual process with a predictable order, each child's journey will be different. Each stage is impacted by the earlier developmental events, and it does not develop at the same rate. Genetics and prenatal development are typically studied in conjunction with child development because prenatal genetic factors and events may have a significant impact on developmental changes. Pediatrics, the area of medicine concerned with the care of children, and developmental psychology, which refers to development across the lifespan, are concepts that are related.

Developmental change can be caused by learning, the environment, or genetically controlled processes called maturation, but most often it includes a combination of the two. It might also happen as a function of human nature and the capacity for environmental learning.

Since each stage of a child's development is a continuum with unique beginnings and endings, there are numerous definitions of each stage. Newborns (ages 0–4 weeks), infants (ages 1–12 months), toddlers (ages 1–2 years), preschoolers (ages 2–6 years), school-aged children (ages 6–12 years), and adolescents (ages 12–18 years) are some instances of specified intervals and age-related development phases.

Parental education is one way to encourage exceptional rates of child growth, among other things. A child's activities, socialisation, and growth are greatly influenced by their parents. A child's life can become more stable as a result of having several parents, which promotes healthy growth. The calibre of a child's care is another element that affects how they develop. Child care programmes may help children improve their social and academic skills as well as their ability to learn new things.

It is crucial to comprehend children's social, cognitive, emotional, and educational development because society values children's healthy development. New theories and approaches have been developed as a result of increased study and interest in this area, particularly with relation to procedures that foster growth within educational systems. Some theories aim to outline the progression of states that make up a child's development.

There are two prevalent theories in developmental psychology that explain how humans grow up and develop. These can be expressed as continuity versus discontinuity, or continuous development versus discontinuous development. Developmental psychologists have sought to answer the question "is development continuous or discontinuous?" Continuity understands development as similar to traveling up a mountain; growth as gradual, continuous, and cumulative. Discontinuity refers to viewing developments as walking upstairs; there are defined stages that are different from the preceding and proceeding one.

Nature vs. Nurture

Another prevalent discussion concerns nature versus nurture. Nature refers to the view that people are shaped by their biology, and thus, their ability is innate to them. Nurture refers to the view that people are shaped by the environment around them, which includes people they meet, the culture they grow up in, the knowledge they encounter, and more. For example, the nature view considers a great basketball player to be great because they were born taller than their counterpart and have inherent basketball skills. The nurture point of view will consider the basketball player's success to be because they had been practicing since they were young, they had met great coaches, and their family provided them with the opportunity to focus on learning basketball.

Continuous Development Psychology

What is continuity in psychology? Continuous development in psychology emphasizes that development and changes in individuals occur gradually. One continuous development example occurs when examining children and mobility. As children grow up, they start crawling, then sitting, then standing, and, finally, walking. These are cumulative steps phases that build upon each other. This view often suggests that learning and development can last for the whole life, therefore, even adults can keep growing and developing.

Psychologists following continuous development theory generally agree with the view that nature is the more dominant force in driving development. Under this view, the main driving force of development and growth is biology, which is inherently a feature of nature.

Discontinuous Development Psychology

Discontinuous development theory refers to the view that development changes can be divided clearly into unique stages. These stages cannot be skipped, and proceeding through them one by one is generally understood as necessary for individuals. Piaget's stages of development is an example of the discontinuous development theory. In this theory, Jean Piaget argues that there are four stages of cognitive development. The stages occur in the following order: Sensorimotor stage (interacting with the immediate environment and takes place from birth to between 10-24 months old); preoperational stage (able to understand simple symbols and language and begins between 18-24 months old and concludes around age 7); concrete operational stage (capable of logical and concrete reasoning and occurs between 7-11 years old); formal operational stage (capable of thinking in abstract symbols and takes place after age 11). After an adolescent is at the formal operational stage, there will be no additional stages through which they will progress, the individual development is considered completed under this model.

Out of various aspects of development, let us look into the intelligence in a human being.

1. Intelligence quotient 

The IQ (intelligence quotient) is a quantitative or statistical representation of an individual's score on a standardized intelligence test.

2. Emotional Intelligence Or Emotional Quotient

The capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success.

3. Social Quotient

Social intelligence refers to a person's ability to understand and manage interpersonal relationships. It is distinct from a person's IQ or “book smarts.” It includes an individual's ability to understand, and act on, the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of other people.

4. Adversity Quotient

Adversity intelligence is the ability of an individual to be able to overcome a difficulty with a characteristic capable of controlling difficult situations, assuming sources of external difficulties, having responsibility in difficult situations, being able to limit the influence of difficult situations in the aspects.

Seven Types Of Intelligence Are As Follows :

1)  Word Smart (linguistic intelligence)

2) Math Smart (numerical/reasoning/logic intelligence)

3) Physically Smart (kinesthetic intelligence)

4) Music Smart (musical intelligence)

5) People Smart (interpersonal intelligence)

6) Self Smart (intrapersonal intelligence)

7) Visually Smart (Spatial intelligence)

But kids aren’t the only ones relieved to hear of these different forms of intelligences. For any parent of a kid who’s struggled in school, learning of the seven different intelligences can be like stumbling upon a life raft.

A child is gifted linguistically or with mathematical intelligence, then he fits pretty well within the easily measured academic ‘norm’ and has a place within our current educational system in which he can succeed.

But other kids, kids who are smart in different ways, often have their very real talents overlooked or ignored by the very system that should be finding ways to engage that form of intelligence.

The really cool thing about these multiple intelligences is that they are like having seven different keys to learning. Depending on a child’s given strengths, that strength can then be used to as a gateway into making other subjects more easily understood and mastered.

More importantly, as a parent, understanding your child’s strongest intelligence can be instrumental in helping him succeed not only in school, but in life. When we know our kid’s intelligence preferences, we can help them use that knowledge and transfer it to concepts that are outside his comfort zone.

These different intelligences are unique ways of seeing and perceiving the world and are strengths that are under-recognized by many standard teaching approaches. Childrens don’t just have to be word smart to be good at writing. Whatever kind of smart they are, it can be used to make them a better writer.

Musically smart people might create sound tracks for their favorite stories. Those who are math smart might be exceptionally good at plotting and story structure. Kinesthetic learners might act out the actions in their stories, or write about physical activities they have experienced. Those who are people smart are probably very good at understanding relationship dynamics, which can be used to make the story richer. Spatial learners might enjoy making a collage to illustrate their story, or even just close their eyes and let the story idea play out like a movie in their head. People who are self smart bring that uncanny self knowledge to the character’s they create.

Below is a list of the seven intelligences, their strengths, and how those strengths can be expanded into other subjects.

Numerical, Reasoning And Logic Intelligence - Displays numerical aptitude Likes problem solving Likes to understand how things work Gets mathematical concepts Likes puzzles and manipulative. Abstract ideas Deciphering codes Being organized | Math games, manipulatives, computers, word scrambles, mind mapping stories, likes to quantify and conceptualize things, use reason and logic, predict patterns,

Linguistic Intelligence- Creative writing Debates Enjoys words and word games Likes reading Ability to reason Good speller Good at speaking in front of others | words and stories are the strength here, reading, writing, books, discussing, journaling, word play such as etymology, exploring metaphors and similes can carry a tune Perfect pitch Is drawn to music Sees rhythmic patters Enjoy the SOUND of language, such as poetry Good singing voice Sensitive to the mood and nuance of music  Emphasize rhythm and sound patterns such as poetry. Clap out sounds of syllables, read out loud, work with onomatopoeia. Set things to jingles, have music playing in the background for association and retrieval.

Spatial Intelligence - Recognizes patters and designs Good at drawing, painting, sculpture Has a good sense of color Like visual clues Thinks in pictures Good at reading maps, charts, diagrams | visual clues are key to accessing this strength. Draw, color, paint, maps, diagrams, charts, color coding, use illustrations to stimulate reading and writing, graphs, maps, art materials, spacial relationships

Kinaesthetic Intelligence - Excels at sports Likes to move; dance, wiggle, Good fine motor skills Has excellent control over his body Good sense of timing Likes to touch things Good at crafts | learns best through movement. enjoys building, moving, touching, acting things out using their bodies, chalk boards, dry erase boards, different kinesthetic ways of experiencing writing. Use building tools, clay, sports, tactile experiences. Oftentimes an allowed fidget aids learning (using a bouncy ball for a chair, squishing a hand strengthener.)

Interpersonal Intelligence - Good communicator Diplomatic Empathetic Likes group projects Good negotiator Has lots of friends Good at reading social situations and clues | social interaction is key to learning; group learning, teams, brainstorming, collaboration, diplomacy, negotiating, group discussion, reader’s theater

Intrapersonal Intelligence -Likes to spend time alone, thinking Prefers working alone Good at understanding self Develops personal strategies Ruminates Good at processing emotions Tends to know oneself Good at self-reflection | learns best through self exploration, reflection, journaling, examining concepts within the context of their personal life, solitude.

CONCLUSION 

It has been said that there can be no accurate measurement of intelligence.

Intelligence is different from learning .Learning refers to the act of retaining facts and information or being able to recall them for future use, while intelligence is the cognitive ability of someone to perform these and other processes.

REFERENCES

1) Laura E. Berk; Child Development. Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt, Ltd., 2013

2) Robert S. Feldman; Understanding Psychology. India: McGraw Hill 2020

3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence

4) https://vikaspedia.in/education/education-best-practices/multiple-intelligence-theory

5) https://www.wired.com/2010/10/exploring-the-seven-different-intelligences/