PEDIATRIC NURSING

Growth

Increase in physical size of a structure or whole.

Development

Increase in the skills or capacity to function

Assychronic Growth

Not all parts of the body grows at the same time or at the same rate.

Cephalocaudal Direction

Growth that occurs along the body's long axis from head to tail.

Proximo-Distal Growth

Growth that progresses from the center of the body to the extremities.

Denver Developmental Test (DDST)

A tool to measure the developmental progress of a child.

Maturation

Synonymous with development, describing the natural progression of growth.

Cognitive Development

The ability to learn, understand experiences, and respond to new situations.

IQ Formula

IQ = (Mental Age/Chronological Age) x 100.

Prenatal Development

Period from conception to birth.

Infancy

Development stage from birth to 1 year.

Adolescent Development

Stage from ages 12-21 characterized by rapid changes.

Secular Trend

The worldwide trend of maturing earlier and growing larger.

Behavior as an Indicator

Behavior is the most comprehensive indicator of developmental stages.

Universal Principle of Growth

Females are born lighter and shorter than males by 1 oz. and 1 in. respectively.

Developmental Task

A skill or growth responsibility arising at a particular time in an individual’s life.