Physical changes in height and weight happen at a comparatively slower rate in the preschool years than in infancy.

Normally, a child adds about 2 to 3 inches in height and about 6 pounds in weight yearly. Alongside with the physical changes are the changes in motor development. More then the ability to walk, the child is also able to acquire skills and begin to explore as part of his acquired independence.

A. Early Childhood.

Overall growth is seen in height and weight measures. Growth is manifested at the earliest stage, usually following a cephalocaudal trend in the lengthening of the neck and torso, followed by the legs. Brain and neck develop earlier than legs and trunks, following proximodistal pattern, development occurs from the center outward.

According to Taner (1990 as cited by Hetherington,et al., 2006) genetic factors srongly influence physical characteristics. However, growth is not seen as influenced only by genetic factors but also by nutrition, physical and psychological disorders and even climate. It is between 6 and 12 that children grow 2 to 3 inches high and add 6 pounds each year. At this stage, large muscles are coordinated and they acquire more skills hand-rendering

them to be able to engage in activities requiring motor coordination added strength and speed like bike riding. It is also during these stage that children acquire hand-eye coordination. Among school-aged children, this development is seen in the fine motor coordination as exemplified in writing, drawing, cutting, and other related school tasks. This is made possible by the maturation of the wrisk.

B. Middle Childhood

Between the ages 6 , 8 , and 10 years in girls and approximately half a year later at 7, 9, and 10 in boys, growth occurs in spurts. Motor development. Coordination both in fine motor skills and those involving largemuscle improves. Example: First grade children can print all letters of the alphabet on to cursive writing.

C. Adolescence

The early signs of maturation is the adolescent growth spurt. There is a sharp increase in height and weight seen among girls aged 9 , and 14 and in boys between 10 and 16. Usually adult height is attained at age 14 or 15 for girls and 18 for boys. Manifestations of growth differ among boys and girls. (males shoulder develops wider and legs longer, female widens pelvis etc.)

Puberty brings about the physical differences that differentiate females and males Spermarche is the first ejaculation of semen containing ejaculate for the males. Menarche is the beginning of the menstrual cycle for the female.
* Menstruation- is the shedding of tissue from the lining of the
womb. The most dramatic sign of sexual maturation for girls.

A.

Early Childhood
The brain continues to develop after birth. It doubles its weight after 6 months at which time it weighs about half that of the adult brain. There are 100 billion neurons or brain cells present at birth which conduct nerve impulses. The neurons are nourished by glial cells which are responsible for the increase in brain size.

The glial cells are responsible for the production of myelin, a fatty substance that forms the covering of the axon of the neuron, the long filament extending out from the cell body by which the neuron makes contact with other nerve cells, thereby transmitting neural messages. The first to be myelinated is the peripheral nervous system connecting the sensory perception, brain muscles, spinal cord, and the internal organs and glands.

The sensory and motor areas are the primary sites of brain growth during the first spurt associated with the noted improvements in the fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Next to be myelinated is the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex. Myelination continues through the middle childhood in particular the reticular formation to the frontal lobes.

*Reticular formation is responsible for the control of attention.

B. Middle Childhood

95% percent of brain growth is reached by the time a child reaches the age of 9. Such growth is characterized by interrelated processes, namely:
o Cell proliferation- overproduction of neurons and interconnections. o Cell Pruning- selective elimination of excess cells and the cutting back of connections. The two processes afford fine-tuning of neural development through experience such that frequent interconnections are retained while the infrequent are pruned.

The neurons of the association areas- parts of the brain, where sensory, motor, and intellectual functions are linked are myelinized to some degree. The child develops the ability to identify and act a relationship between objects in space.(Example, Imagining or picturing a person,
head down or describing a classrom).

However, complex lateral perception is not very strongly laterized not until the age of 8.

C. Adolescence There are two major growth spurts, one occurring between ages 13 to 15 and the second brain growth spurt beginning around 17 and which continues into early adulthood. In the first spurt, the cerebral cortex becomes thicker and neuronal pathways become more efficient. It takes place in the part of the brain that controls spatial perception and motor functions .

The second brain growth spurt has the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex as focus of development.

Submitted by: Emmanuel C. Revilla BSEd-1S LSPU-SPCC