![]() ![]() The baby therefore goes through parallel processes: changing from a supine posture, through sitting, to independent walking concurrently learning to grasp and manipulate objects. The development of an upright stance frees the hands for manipulation. Physical growth is an awe-inspiring process.īeginning at conception, almost all tissue differentiation occurs in utero with growth continuing throughout childhood, especially during the first year and puberty. Inquisitiveness extends to questions: 'what' as he learns to identify things, then the persistent 'whys' of the pre-school child trying to understand his world. An infant's inquisitiveness leads him to explore: fixing and following, reaching out and grasping, putting objects in his mouth, crawling and walking. Mental development seems to underlie most other aspects of development. ![]() Our cognitive development involves various components, including memory, logical thought and questioning. Descartes' words reflect how man is distinguished from all other creatures. This view encompasses a biblical understanding of the nature of mankind and our purpose in this world without negating our current understanding of the process of and factors influencing child development.Ĭogito, ergo sum. I believe child development could be defined as a series of overlapping categories within four domains: mental (wisdom), physical (stature), social (favour with men) and spiritual (favour with God). ![]() Luke concludes: 'Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men'. Like all adolescents, Jesus had to work out his own identity. Luke tells us that Jesus spent three days in the temple, questioning and learning. Following normal patterns of motor, language, social and cognitive development, he moved from complete parental dependence to increasing maturity and independence. There is no reason to assume that he did not follow the same predictable process as all children. He went through embryogenesis and fetal development before being born into this world. Jesus Christ started life as a fertilised human embryo. I have tried to understand the process from a biblical perspective, drawing on my understanding of the Christian faith, observations of children, and reading of medical and Christian literature. Article six of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child asks member states to 'ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child'. Now as a paediatrician, I spend much of my time observing children going through the same process. As I grew, I put off some childish traits but built on others. ![]()
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