PRINCIPLES THAT UNDERLIE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD

 There are three principles of growth and development: the cephalocaudal principle, the proximal-distal principle, the hierarchical integration principle and principle of system independence. These predictable patterns of growth and development allow us to predict when and how many children will develop certain traits.

The cephalocaudal principle states that growth follows a direction and pattern that begins at the head and trunk and continues throughout the rest of the body. According to this principle, we develop vision (the ends of our heads) long before we learn the ability to walk (the ends of our bodies). 

The proximal principle states that development occurs from the center of the body outwards. According to this principle, the trunk grows before the tips of the arms and legs. Developing skills using other body parts also follows the proximal principle. For example, the actual use of the hands takes precedence over the ability to use one's hands.

 The principle of hierarchical integration is that simple skills develop separately and independently, but these simple skills are integrated into more complex skills. The relatively complex ability to hold something in the hand appears only when the growing child learns to control and combine the movements of individual fingers.

 Finally, the principle of system independence states that different body systems grow at different rates. For example, body size, nervous system, and growth patterns during puberty vary greatly.