Healthy Growth and Development - Essay Example

Childhood is the first stage of human development. This stage lays the basis for higher stages of development and is hence vital. The childhood stage is divided into early childhood and late childhood. Malnutrition in children results from an unbalanced diet or lack of vital nutrients in a child’s diet (Zornado, 2001). Failure to offer enough breastfeeding primarily marks the beginning of diseases due to a poorly developed immune system. This stage is also considered the period during which children learn societal values. Lack of proper instruction or education during this stage leads to poor development of an individual and this is a factor of social concern (Zornado, 2001).

Adolescence follows immediately from childhood and it lasts up to the late teenage. During this stage, individuals undergo a both psychological and physiological transformation that leads to maturity. Problems of societal concern associated with this stage result in physiological transformations. Hormonal changes make adolescents particularly unable to control their emotions. They, therefore, become vulnerable to peer pressure ending up with unwanted pregnancies and the use of drugs (AMA, 2011). Most notably, behavioral problems such as aggressiveness and deviant behavior are mostly associated with adolescence. It is the most vulnerable stage where adolescents can be swayed to any behavioral identity through social influence. Sexuality is also a major problem during adolescence. Similarly, this problem is associated with peer influence and the impacts of the media on the young generation (AMA, 2011).

Adulthood is considered the last stage of human development. In most societies, adulthood begins in the early twenties. Adulthood is divided into early adulthood and late adulthood and each of the development stages has its unique characteristics. Midlife crisis is one of the main obstacles to successful development during adulthood. The midlife crisis results from dissatisfaction with the present status in life either socially, emotionally, financially, or in family relationships. Stress and depression characterize midlife crises as individuals seek to redefine their lives to what they feel they deserve. The phenomenon is universal and it has been known to cause chronic illness and stress among the elderly generation. Chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and arthritis are also major challenges during adulthood.

To achieve healthy growth at each of these development stages, people apply appropriate solutions to tackle the obstacles. Feeding young children on a balanced diet can greatly reduce the associated complication. Breastfeeding during the early childhood stage also promotes healthy childhood. On the other hand, giving the right education to the youths can greatly reduce adolescent challenges. Finally, a  midlife crisis can be addressed by the proper organization of life and by seeking professional assistance from psychologists whenever necessary. Read More