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An introduction to how people change and grow in different ways throughout their entire lives.
Think about a tiny baby and a wise grandparent. They seem totally different, but they are actually just at different chapters of the same incredible story—the story of human development!
Human Development is the scientific study of how people change and stay the same over time. Many people think growing up only happens when you are a kid, but it is actually a lifelong process! From the moment you are born until you are very old, your body, mind, and feelings are constantly shifting. If we let represent your whole life, development happens at every point from to the very end of .
Quick Check
Does human development stop once you become an adult?
Answer
No, it is a lifelong process that continues until the very end of a person's life.
To make it easier to study, scientists divide development into three main areas. First is Physical development, which includes your height, weight, and how your brain grows. Second is Mental (or cognitive) development, which is how you learn, think, and solve problems. Finally, there is Social development, which is how you interact with others and handle your emotions. Imagine these as three different gears in a machine—they all turn at the same time to help you move forward!
Let's look at a 5th grader named Sam: 1. Sam grew inches taller this year (Physical). 2. Sam learned how to multiply fractions in math class (Mental). 3. Sam learned how to apologize after an argument with a friend (Social).
Quick Check
If you learn a new language, which of the 'Big Three' areas are you developing?
Answer
Mental (or cognitive) development.
Have you ever noticed that some kids in your class are much taller than others, even if they are the same age? This is because everyone has their own internal clock. Growth is influenced by two main things: your genetics (the instructions from your parents) and your environment (your food, exercise, and experiences). Because everyone has different instructions and different lives, we all grow at different speeds. It is perfectly normal for one person to hit a 'growth spurt' at age while another waits until age .
Imagine two plants, Plant A and Plant B. 1. Plant A gets hours of sunlight and grows cm. 2. Plant B gets hours of sunlight and grows cm. Even if they are the same type of plant, their environment changed their growth speed. Humans are the same! Our unique mix of DNA and our surroundings determine our pace.
Consider a student who is the shortest in the class (Physical) but can read high-school level books (Mental) and is the best at helping classmates solve disagreements (Social). This shows that development doesn't happen at the same speed in all three areas at once!
Which area of development involves how we handle our emotions and make friends?
What are the two main factors that decide how fast a person grows?
True or False: Everyone of the same age should be at the exact same stage of physical growth.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to name one way you have grown physically, one way you've grown mentally, and one way you've grown socially in the last year.
Practice Activity
Interview an adult! Ask them: 'What is one thing you have learned or one way you have changed since you were my age?' This helps you see development as a lifelong process.