Developmental
di-vel-up-MEN-tl
/dɪˌvɛləpˈmɛntl/
Relating to the process of developing or growing.
Often refers to the progression of skills, abilities, and characteristics over time, especially in children, encompassing physical, cognitive, social, and emotional aspects.
The story behind the word. The word 'developmental' comes from 'develop,' which has a charming origin in Old French. 'Desveloper' literally meant 'to unwrap' or 'to unfold.' Imagine a tightly wrapped package slowly revealing its contents. This perfectly captures the idea of development as a process where potential unfolds and new abilities emerge over time, much like a child growing and learning new skills.
Word relationships
- evolving: Suggests a continuous process of change and growth.
- maturational: Focuses more on the biological and inherent processes of reaching maturity.
- stagnant: Lacking development or progress.
Word family
- develop (verb): To grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
- development (noun): The process of developing or being developed.
Collocations
- developmental stages
- developmental delay
- developmental psychology
- developmental disorder
Example sentences
- "The pediatrician closely monitored the child's developmental milestones, such as crawling and first words." The pediatrician closely monitored the child's developmental milestones, such as crawling and first words.
- "Early intervention is crucial for children facing developmental delays." Early intervention is crucial for children facing developmental delays.
- "Piaget's theory describes distinct developmental stages in children's cognitive abilities." Piaget's theory describes distinct developmental stages in children's cognitive abilities.
Memory hook
Think of 'DEVELOP' as 'DE-VELOPE,' like taking something out of an envelope to see it grow. Unfolding growth
When not to use
Avoid using 'developmental' as a noun; instead, use 'development' or 'developmental stage/issue.'
Fun facts
- Developmental psychology is a field dedicated to studying how humans grow and change throughout their lifespan.
- The concept of 'developmental windows' refers to specific periods when a child is most receptive to learning certain skills, like language acquisition.
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