Development refers to the progressional change either quantitative or qualitativ that leads from an undifferentiated or immature stated to a highly organized, specialized and mature state (Bogin, 2010). Growth and maturation occur simultaneously with development but the latter denotes a broader concept that is used in two distinct contexts- biological and behavioural (Malina et al., 2004).
In biological context, it refers to the processes of differentiation and specialization of pluripotent embryonic stem cell into different cell types, tissues, organs, and functional units. Differentiation chiefly ensues early in prenatal life when tissues and organ systems are being formed and complete differentiation is attained with the onset of function in a particular tissue. The course is regulated by activation or repression of set of gene interacting with hormones and nutrition. In behavioral context, it relates to the development of competence in a variety of interrelated domains as the child adjust to his or her cultural milieu- the amalgam of symbols, values and behaviors that characterize a population. It also denotes acquisition and refin ment of behaviors expected by the society.