Normal growth and development

Alternative names:

diet and intellectual development

Definition:

A child's growth and development may be divided in to four periods: infancy, the pre-school years, the middle childhood years, and adolescence. Immediately after birth, an infant normally loses approximately 5 to 10% of his birth weight. However, by about 2 weeks of age an infant should start to have rapid weight gain and growth. By four to six months of age an infant should have doubled his birth weight. During the second half of the first year of life, growth begins to slow down and between the age of one and two a toddler will gain only about five pounds. Weight gain will remain at about five pounds per year between the ages of two and five. Between the ages of two to ten years, growth will continue at a steady pace. Then, with the onset of puberty, at around eleven years of age, there is usually a final growth spurt as the adolescent approaches adulthood. Nutrient needs correspond with these changes in rates of growth, with an infant needing more calories for his size than a preschooler or school aged child would need. Nutrient needs then increase as a child approaches adolescence. Generally a healthy child will follow his or her own growth curve, in spite of variable nutrient intake. Parents and care-givers should provide appropriate diets for age and be sure the diet offers a wide variety of foods to ensure nutritional adequacy.

Intellectual development and diet:
Undernutrition has been associated with serious problems related to intellectual development. A child who is undernourished may experience early fatigue and may be unable to fully participate in learning experiences at school. Additionally, undernutrition can contribute to increased susceptibility to illness, causing a child to miss school frequently. Children who are undernourished have unacceptable growth patterns accompanied by scholastic underachievement. A good variety of food choices and adequate intake are essential to achieving optimal intellectual development. Breakfast is particularly important as children may feel fatigued, sleepy, and unmotivated when it is skimpy or is skipped altogether.