NATIONAL TEACHERS’
INSTITUTE, KADUNA
COURSE TITLE: DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE CODE: (PDE 702)
PRESENTED
By
SALAU RAHEEM
REGISTRATION NO: NTI/PGDE/2025/0300
PHONE: NUMBER:
07039762488
LEVEL: 1, FIRST
SEMESTER
COURSE OF STUDY: POST
GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION
18TH JUNE,
2025
Question1:
"Write short note on the following concepts: mitosis, somatic cells,
maturation, and general principle of development"
1.
Mitosis:
Mitosis is a type of cell division
that produces two identical cells. It helps in body growth and repair of
tissues.
2.
Somatic Cells:
These are all the body cells except
sperm and egg cells. They help form parts like skin, muscles, and bones.
3.
Maturation:
Maturation is the natural process
by which a person grows and becomes fully developed in body and mind.
4.
General Principle of Development:
Development follows a pattern:
1. It
starts from head to toe (cephalocaudal).
2. It
goes from center to outer parts (proximodistal).
3. It
moves from simple actions to more complex ones.
4. It
happens step by step and at different speeds for each child.
Question
2: Discuss the factors that affect growth and development.
Growth and development in children
are influenced by many factors. These include genetic, nutritional,
environmental, and social conditions. Below are the major factors and how they
affect a child’s development, with examples:
1.
Heredity (Genetic Factors):
Heredity refers to traits passed
from parents to children through genes. These traits include height, eye color,
body type, and even intelligence.
Example: If both parents are short,
their child is likely to be short too, no matter how well they eat.
2.
Nutrition:
Good food helps the body grow
properly. Children need balanced diets with proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Poor nutrition can lead to stunted growth and weakness.
Example: A child who eats balanced
meals with milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruits will grow healthier than one who
eats only junk food.
3.
Health and Illness:
Children who suffer from frequent
illnesses may not grow well because their bodies are weak. Serious diseases can
delay growth.
Example: A child with repeated
malaria or measles may miss school and fall behind physically and mentally.
4.
Environment:
The surroundings where a child
grows play a big role. A clean, peaceful, and safe environment supports healthy
growth.
Example: A child raised in a clean
home with space to play and fresh air grows better than one living in a
crowded, dirty area.
5.
Education and Learning Opportunities:
Learning helps brain development.
Children who are exposed to books, games, and school grow intellectually.
Example: A child attending a
nursery school learns to speak and count faster than one who stays at home
without any learning tools.
6.
Emotional and Social Support:
Children need love, care, and
encouragement to develop emotionally and socially. Without this, they may
become fearful or unfriendly.
Example: A child who is hugged,
praised, and talked to by parents will likely grow with confidence, while a
child who is always shouted at may become shy or aggressive.
7.
Cultural and Societal Influence:
Culture affects how children grow
and what they learn. Traditions and customs guide behavior.
Example: In some cultures, girls
may be expected to stay at home more, which may affect their education and
confidence compared to boys.
8.
Physical Activity and Rest:
Play and exercise help children
build strong muscles and bones, while sleep helps the body repair and grow.
Example: A child who plays football
and sleeps early at night will grow stronger than one who stays indoors and
sleeps late.
Conclusion:
Many things affect how a child
grows and develops. Parents, teachers, and society must work together to make
sure children eat well, stay healthy, feel loved, and learn in a good
environment.
Question
3a:
Explain the influence of the
environment on the child.
The environment plays a very
important role in the growth and development of a child. A child’s environment
includes everything around them their
home, school, community, and the people they interact with. These surroundings
can affect a child’s physical health, mental ability, emotional stability, and
social behavior.
1.
Physical Environment:
This includes the cleanliness of
the home, availability of good water, shelter, space to play, and safety.
Example: A child raised in a clean,
quiet, and safe environment is more likely to be healthy, active, and happy. On
the other hand, a child living in a dirty or overcrowded place may fall sick
often and feel uncomfortable.
2.
Social Environment:
This includes the people around the
child — parents, siblings, neighbors, and teachers. Children learn from how
others behave and talk.
Example: A child who grows up in a
home where people speak politely and show love will likely grow up with good
manners and confidence. But if the child is in a violent or abusive
environment, they may become fearful, aggressive, or withdrawn.
3.
Educational Environment:
The kind of learning materials and
support available to a child also matters.
Example: A child who has access to
books, toys, television programs for learning, or who attends a good school,
will likely develop faster mentally than one who has no such opportunities.
4.
Emotional Environment:
Children need love, care,
attention, and encouragement. A supportive emotional environment helps a child
feel safe and build self-confidence.
Example: A child who is constantly
praised and supported by parents and teachers will likely be more eager to
learn and try new things.
5.
Cultural and Religious Environment:
The culture and beliefs of the
people around a child affect how they behave and what they value.
Example: A child growing up in a
community where honesty, respect, and hard work are taught will likely behave
better than one who sees people lie or cheat.
Conclusion:
In summary, the environment has a
strong influence on a child’s total development. A good environment helps the
child grow up healthy, intelligent, and confident. It is the responsibility of
parents, teachers, and society to provide a positive and supportive environment
for every child.
Write
Short Note on Heredity:
Heredity is the passing of traits
from parents to their children through genes. These traits can include physical
features like height, skin color, eye color, and even talents or intelligence.
Heredity comes from the biological information stored in the DNA found in the
cells.
Example: If both parents are tall,
their child may also be tall. If a parent has a talent for music, the child may
inherit that ability.
3b
Write Short Note on Heredity
Heredity plays an important role in
a child’s growth, development, and health, but it also works together with the
environment to shape the child fully.
3c:
Factors Affecting Prenatal Development
Prenatal development is the growth
of a baby inside the mother’s womb from conception to birth. Several factors
can affect how well the baby develops during this period. These factors can be
biological, environmental, or health-related.
Below are the main factors
affecting prenatal development:
1.
Maternal Health:
The health of the mother during
pregnancy is very important. If the mother is sick or has untreated diseases
like diabetes, malaria, or infections, it can affect the baby's development.
Example: A mother with untreated
high blood pressure during pregnancy may have a baby with low birth weight.
2.
Nutrition:
A pregnant woman needs to eat
balanced meals rich in vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Poor nutrition can
lead to poor brain and body development of the baby.
Example: Lack of folic acid may
lead to birth defects like spina bifida.
3.
Use of Drugs and Alcohol:
Drinking alcohol, smoking, or
taking harmful drugs during pregnancy can damage the baby’s organs or brain.
Example: Babies born to mothers who
smoke may have breathing problems or low birth weight.
4.
Infections and Diseases:
Infections such as rubella (German
measles), HIV, or syphilis can pass from mother to baby and harm the baby’s
growth.
Example: Rubella infection during
early pregnancy may cause deafness or heart problems in the baby.
5.
Maternal Age:
The age of the mother can affect
pregnancy. Very young or older mothers may face more pregnancy risks.
Example: Teen mothers may have babies
born too early (premature), while older mothers may have a higher chance of
having babies with genetic conditions like Down syndrome.
6.
Stress and Emotional State:
Too much stress or emotional
problems during pregnancy may affect the baby’s development and lead to
premature birth or low weight.
Example: A mother who is constantly
anxious or abused may give birth earlier than expected.
7.
Exposure to Environmental Hazards:
Exposure to harmful chemicals,
radiation, or pollution during pregnancy can affect the unborn baby.
Example: A pregnant woman working
in a factory with chemicals may have a baby with birth defects.
Conclusion:
To ensure healthy prenatal
development, it is important for pregnant women to eat well, avoid harmful
substances, go for regular medical checkups, and live in a clean, safe
environment.
3d:
Effect of Birth Damage on the Development of the Child
Birth damage refers to injuries or
problems that happen to a baby during or shortly after birth. This can be due
to difficult delivery, lack of oxygen, infection, or medical mistakes. Birth
damage can affect a child’s physical, mental, emotional, or social development.
Below
are the key effects:
1.
Physical Disabilities:
Birth injuries can cause problems
like weak muscles, stiff joints, or difficulty walking.
Example: A child with cerebral
palsy due to lack of oxygen at birth may have trouble with movement and
balance.
2.
Mental or Intellectual Delay:
If the brain is affected during
birth, the child may have trouble learning, speaking, or solving problems.
Example: A child with birth-related
brain damage may be slow in learning to talk or read.
3.
Hearing and Vision Problems:
Some birth damages affect the eyes
or ears, leading to partial or complete loss of sight or hearing.
Example: A baby who had an
infection during birth may develop deafness or blindness.
4.
Emotional and Behavioral Issues:
Some children with birth injuries
may grow up with emotional difficulties, such as frustration or mood swings.
Example: A child who cannot walk or
talk like others may feel left out or develop low self-esteem.
5.
Delayed Developmental Milestones:
The child may take longer to sit,
crawl, walk, or speak compared to other children.
Example: Instead of walking at 1
year, the child may not walk until 2 years or more.
Conclusion:
Birth damage can affect many parts
of a child’s life. Early medical care, therapy, and special education can help
reduce the effect. Support from family and a teacher is also very important to
help such children grow and develop to their best ability.