NATURE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDENTS

NATURE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT STUDENTS

Development and growth of children is important for us to learn and we understand as the candidate of educators. Many educators do not understand the development - the development of children. So there are still educators who implement learning systems without looking at the development of their students. This will result in an imbalance between the development of the child's learning system that will be difficult for students to follow the existing learning system. By knowing the process, the factors and the concept of development of our students will easily find out the learning system is effective, efficient, focused and in accordance with the development of students. 

To develop the potential of students and create future generations of quality, it is necessary to an understanding of the development and growth of students. Thus, as educators we are obligated to know and understand the development and growth of learners. 

As educators let us pick out all the problems below ........ 

1. What is the difference in terms of development and growth?
2. What is also evidence that child as a totality?
3. Why is referred to as the holistic development?
4. What factors influence child development? 
5. What is the difference of continuity and discontinuity in development?
6. What is the difference in biological and perceptual development of children?
7. What is the difference of heredity factors and environmental factors in child development?
8. How the application of developmental factors in the learning?
 
By understanding the issues in the hope of educators understand and comprehend the process, the factors and concepts of child development, so that the educators know what steps should be taken to implement effective learning and in accordance with the development of children. 

A. Understanding Development and Growth 

Human life is not permanent, but constantly changing - change. Starting from conception, a fetus, infant, born, mature, and eventually die. When the baby is born, does not have anything except the ability to cry. By way of constantly interacting with the environment, the baby will be more perfect itself, until the child is experiencing physical changes to become more balanced. 

Over time, the baby continues to change. Behaviors and skills is also growing. The baby started to do certain things, like the back body, sitting, crawling, standing and eventually walking and running. 

However, the changes experienced by each individual is not always regarded as progress.  

Changes in the sense of purpose and the development has a different meaning - different, among others: 

1. Changes are rooted in the biological elements.

This change is not a development, but rather interpreted as the result of a person in achieving his desire. For example, someone who is accustomed to singing and vocal process will be more proficient than those who are unfamiliar vocal processing. (Bjorklund & Bjorkund, 1992). 

However, the learning experience gained one could also affect the development process.

2. Developments include changes in the structure and function (physical or psychological). (Bjorklund & Bjorkund, 1992; Abin Makmun Shamsuddin, 1996).

Generally refers to changes in structure or physical changes her body shape, size and shape. 

Changes in the function refers to the psychological or mental changes as well as activities that caused the result of physical changes. 

3. Changes are patterned, orderly, organized and predictable or unpredictable, and even can be known. For example, at the age of 11-12 months the child is able to walk. (Bjorklund & Bjorkund, 1992; Yussen & Santrock, 1992). 

4. The development is unique. 

Santrock & Yussen (1992:7) states "Each of us develops in Certain Airways like all other individuals, like some other individuals, and individuals like no other." Which means, each of us develop in certain ways, like all other individuals, like some other individuals, and as no other individual. In addition to the general similarities in the patterns of growth experienced by each individual, the individual variation in child development can also occur because of a change process is complex, and involve elements that mutually affected each other. (Bjorklund & Bjorkund, 1992; Yussen & Santrock, 1992). 

5. Changes occur gradually in a continuous process and in a relatively long period of time. 

6. Changes last a lifetime. This change also includes not only the process of growth, maturation and refinement. But also includes the process of decline and destruction. 

Of the several explanations of the above, we can conclude that the development of an individual changes both physically and psychologically that last a lifetime and occur regularly and patterned. While growth is limited to the pattern of change experienced by the individual physically. 

The development includes not only evolution, but also includes the involution or decline toward death and destruction. While growth is limited to changes or changes in the evolution towards more advanced. 

B. Children as a totality 

As the subject of studies of developmental psychology, the concept of children as a totality means that there are linkages between the physical and psychological aspects are integrated within itself and intertwined and support each other functionally. For example, children who are sick can no appetite; child who is afraid to sleep can be difficult; child's spirit and will be actively doing something active mentally as well. Any physical activity that involves children is always affects the child psychologically, and vice versa. 

Differences between children and adults is not limited to physical, but as a whole. For example, rapid growth in children than in adults. Children tend to be egocentric (centered nature / standard to myself), whereas adults are more social and empathetic attitude (put himself in the position of others and to feel what is perceived by others). Think the kids are still limited to things that are concrete, whereas adults are capable of thinking in the abstract and universal. 

C. As the process of development of the Holistic Development of All Aspects of 

The development is a process that involves all aspects of the interconnections with each other.The process of individual development are grouped into three, namely the biological, cognitive and psychosocial. 

1. Biological processes, including individual physical changes that are natural, not due to accident, illness or other events. For example, the growth of the brain, nervous system, hormones, motor skills, sexual development, changes in vision, and so forth. 

2. Cognitive process, involving changes in thinking skills, language and way of gaining knowledge of the environment. Cognitive development and learning experiences are closely related and influence each other. Will facilitate the child's cognitive development and restrict children's learning abilities, and vice versa. 

However, with these linkages, there are differences between them. Cognitive development refers to changes in thinking ability, and language as well occur in a relatively long time. While the ability to learn are more likely to refer to changes from the results of experience or more special events, and occurred within a relatively short time. 

D. Psychosocial process, involving changes in aspects of feelings, emotions and personality of the individual, identity development, the pattern of relationships with family members, friends, teachers and others. 

Biological growth processes, cognitive and psychosocial inter-related between each other. For example, children with disorders of the brain, will experience a delay in thinking, which then can affect psychosocial development. 

E. Maturity and experience in Child Development 

Maturity is the phase changes experienced by individuals due to genetic influence and place in bertahab.Experience the events experienced by individuals in their lives as a result of interaction with their environment. 

The experts argue that child development is influenced by genetic or biological inheritance. 

Other experts say that the experience environment was most instrumental in the development of children. 

There are experts who say that the factors that influence children's development is a genetic factor and environmental factor interactions. 

For example, a person's intelligence could be a legacy inherited from his parents, because it can also be obtained from the neighborhood where he grew up and developed. 

F. Continuity and Discontinuity in Development 

Many experts who debated the issue is the development of continuity or discontinuity. 

The experts are of the view on the elements of maturity, it is considered that the development of a discontinuity or not sustainable. The process of individual development occurs in distinct stages, the changes relatife occur suddenly and sharply change or transition from one stage to the next developmental stage. 

The experts who support the discontinuity view assumes that development is influenced by internal biological factors. 

While the experts who emphasize the experience (of environmental) argues that these developments are happening on an ongoing basis (continuity) of the conception dampai end of life. 

Continuity in the development process, there was improvement, addition or decrease as a result of interaction with the environment. 

Emde and Harmon (Vasta, Haith & Miller, 1992) says that the question of continuity and discontinuity involves two components. 

1. Pattern - The pattern of development 

Continuity experts believe that the development took place in a smooth and stable through the addition and or improvements in terms of gradual abilitas (ability, intelligence, skills), skills or new knowledge on a relatively equal steps. While experts believe that the development of a discontinuity occurs in periods different speeds, between a few changes with a sharp and rapid changes. 

2. Linkage Development 

Continuity experts argue that the developments that occurred related to each other. Initial behavior will influence and shape subsequent behaviors. 

Instead, experts argue that the development of the discontinuities that occur appear independent (stand alone) from the previous one and can not be predicted from previous behaviors. 

BIOLOGICAL AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERCERTUAL 

As discussed above, that child as a totality and biological elements affecting perkembagan children participated. Biological and perceptual elements is an important aspect to consider in the development of children. Because of these aspects affect the behavior and mental development in children. 

Emphasis on the biological development of physical development that is influenced by heredity or genetic factors. 

While the emphasis on the perceptual aspects of the child outside (environment) which is a result of stimulation of the senses. Such as sight, smell, hearing, and feeling (touch). 

A. Heredity and Environmental Factors in Child Development. 

Humans are creatures of God's most perfect than other creatures. Humans have the potential to grow and improve their lives both physically and psychologically. 

There are two factors that most influence on individual development. 

B. Heredity factor 

This factor is natural and inherited by the parents. On heredity factors are genes that are inherited properties will be transmitted by one generation to the next. 

a. The first gene-gene dominant-recessive, ie, if a gene from a partner is dominant and one recessive, dominant then that will be embedded within the individual. 

b. Both of polygenic inheritance. Actually, in one cell there are many genes that ultimately result in different characteristics. Because some of the psychological characteristics are the result of single pairs, while most are determined by the interaction of many different genes. 

A. Environmental factors 

As the conditions or interactional experiences that enable the ongoing development process. For example, in the family, each child has a character and a different experience. Depending on the treatment of each parent to his children, and the association of each child. This indicates that environmental factors also affect the development of the individual. 

B. Physical and Perceptual development of Primary School Children 

School-age period is a time when children begin to enter the world of formal education, ie school. Elementary school is the first formal education that serves as paving the way for children to develop the potential and ability of the child and enable them to achieve dreams that they hope for the future later. As well as the first bridge to proceed to the next level. Primary school children aged between 6-12 years. 

1. Physical Development 

Physical development in children has different characteristics from both sebelu and after the children. Physical development in children of primary school age need to be studied and understood by every teacher, because it is believed that all learning activities and activities related to mental and personality formation and growth are affected by physical 

Children and adults have many differences, both in terms of physical and psychological. For example in terms of physical weight, height, proportions and body shape. In terms of psychic instance, the nature, behavior and mindset. 

2. Children's perceptual 

As already described above that emphasize the perceptual aspects of the child outside (environment) as a result of stimulation of the senses. All the circumstances and events in the environment captured by the tool - a tool which is then channeled to the senses the brain through the sensory nerves, so that all information in the environment can be received and acknowledged by means of the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste / touch).  

Without the senses, our brain will feel familiar with the circumstances surrounding the existing environment. 

C. Implementation Factors in Learning Development 

Physical development of children continue to take place at the primary school age, although not sepesat in early childhood. Similarly, the sharpening and refinement of perceptual development of children. 

Organization of learning a "live" and in accordance with the characteristics and physical needs of children is required for proper functioning and physical elements or aspects perseptualnya. 

Way of learning that is expected among others: direct, structured in a flexible, not monotonous and verbalistik, pay attention to individual differences, presenting a varied activities such as experiments, practical, direct observation, games and the like, and use a variety of media and learning resources. 

This way not only will bring passion in learning, but also provide positive things, aspects of cognition and creativity, physical, perceptual, and social. 

CONCLUSION 

The conclusion from the above discussion are: 

1. Differences in the development and growth. The development of an individual changes both physical and psychic, and last a lifetime, the changes are not only evolution, but also is the involution (decrease toward death and destruction). Growth is confined to individual changes and physical changes take place until at a certain time, the changes are evolutionary (heading toward a more perfect). 

2. Child as a totality. It means that the child as a unity of all aspects within themselves. Overall there are aspects that are related to the child. Overall children are different from adults. 

3. The development as a holistic process. That is progress not only occur in certain aspects, but as a whole (holistically). There are three developmental processes that are related to each other, namely the biological, cognitive and psychosocial. 

4. Maturity factor and the factor of experience is the main thing in influencing child development. Both factors are very important to be studied and understood to determine the child's development. For example, a child who experienced a delay in walking, must be known in advance the factors that influence it, if the maturity factor (genetic) or experience factors (environment). If the already known factors, then we will easily find a solution.

5. Child development is a process of continuity (continuous) and discontinuity (not continuous). 

6. Biological and perceptual differences in the development of children. The development of biological stress on the physical development of which is influenced by hereditary factors (heredity). While the emphasis on the perceptual aspects of the child outside (environment) which is a result of stimulation of the senses. 

7. Differences in the factors of heredity and environmental factors in child development teretak on the causes and effects caused by two factors. 

8. Effective way of learning is applied in the school will run smoothly when didiringi to always pay attention to the child's development.