Human Development is the process of growing to maturity.

This entails growth from one-celled zygote to an adult of human being, this growth is grouped in several stages. Below are the stages of human development: (1)PRE-NATAL STAGE: this stage occurs from conception to birth and is separated into three stages namely: (a)Germinal Stage (b) Embryonic Stage (c)Foetal Stage (a)Germinal Stage: this stage begins from the fertilisation of the male sperm and female ovum(in Human).The fertilisation of sperm and ovum produces zygote after (about) 14 days of fertilisation and this zygote develops placenta with which dependent relationship is developed with the mother. It uses the placenta to draw nourishment from the mother (b)Embryonic Stage :this stage begins from the 14th day -56th day(8th week).At this stage the development of essential structures (such as ;Amniotic sac { i.e the sac containing the fluid which the embryo floats},Umbilical cord {connects the placenta to the abdominal wall}) for protection and nourishment of the embryo. (c)Foetal Stage: this stage also begins from the 56th day (8th week) to the 280th day (40th week).At this stage maturation and formation of the organs of the foetus (such as Heart, Brain, Sense organs .e.t.c.) occurs rapidly. (2) INFANCY STAGE: this occurs from birth to the first two years of a child after birth. This stage is characterized by rapid growth of the child both in size and proportion. For instance an average baby weighs between 5 -10 lbs with length between 19 and 22 inches at birth and at two years ,an average child increases by about 2 kg and 9 cm (3 inches in a year). (3) CHILDHOOD STAGE: this is a stage of a very young human being who is not yet an adult .This stage is divided into two stages, namely; (a)Early Childhood Stage: this stage starts from the 2nd year to the 7th year of a child. At this stage different aspects of the body grows at this stage (e.g. Genes, Tissues, Organs .e.t.c),but between the ages 5-6 there are noticeable slow down at the growth rate in height but the growth rate of body weight continues to increase. (b)Late Childhood Stage: the duration of this stage is at the 7th -12th year of every child and is characterized by the neuromuscular and physical development (The nervous system develops rapidly coupled with the expansion of the body structure).At this stage the arm and leg movements are well co-ordinated. (4)ADOLESCENCE STAGE : is a stage in persons life when he or she develops from a child into an adult, just as the word Adolescence implies from Greek word{Adolescere} which means to grow to maturity. This term Adolescence have

been perceived in various ways by various psychologists, below are some psychologists perception on the definition of Adolescence. *Rogers (1970) said Adolescence is a process of achieving the attitudes and belief needed for effective participation and functioning in a society. *Blair, Jones and Simpson (1975) defined this term as that period in every persons life that lies between the end of childhood and the beginning of Adulthood but Blair further said that it varies in length from family to family, from socio-economic background to another, from one culture to another and between genders. The Adolescence stage today has been divided 3 stages. Bellow are the stages of Adolescence stage, the stages are grouped by sex and age. (Sex) (1.) Early Adolescence Girls Boys (2.) Middle Adolescence Girls Boys (3.) Late Adolescence Girls Boys (Ages) 13-15yrs 15-17yrs 15-18yrs 17-19yrs 18-21yrs 19-21yrs

Girls as it has been stated achieve physical, sexual and socio maturity faster than boys of the same age. (1.) Early Adolescence is marked by certain unique physical and psychological and development both in boys and girls. These features occur at this period. GIRLS PUBERTY PERIOD 1. Rapid growth in height 2. The hips widen 3. Appearance of pubic hairs 4. Appearance of facial pimples 5. The shooting out of the breast 6. Development of sex organs marked by appearance of menstrual periods BOYS 1. The development of pubic hairs and beards.

2. The voice deepens 3. The Adolescence becomes more muscular. 4. Development of sex organs marked by maturity of penis and testes, discharge of sperms, wet dreams etc. (2.) Middle Adolescence is characterized by heterosexual relations among adolescents parents, teachers, counselors must be very vigilant at this period to counsel and explain the implication of sex to adolescents. (3.) Late Adolescence most adolescence becoming more matured in behaviour and are maturing into adults responsibilities depending in the family socio economic background (5). ADULTHOOD STAGE: this is a stage or rather a state of being an adult and this stage is splited into Early adulthood, Middle adulthood, Late adulthood and old age. Adulthood stage starts from age 21 and above varying from persons to persons, culture to culture. (1.) Early /Middle Adulthood stage: there are no clear demarcation separating these Early and Middle stages of Adulthood therefore, the periods vary from one person to another and culture to culture. The age of 18- 21yrs marks the legal status of an adult .The physical development of the individual is completed or about to be completed at the beginning of early adulthood. Early Adulthood really starts from22-25yrs of age while Middle stage of Adulthood starts from 25-39yrs of age. It is around the third quarter of the average Human Being. At this stage series of marriage processes aimed at selecting life partner based on shared values and interest, then marriage starts resulting from this relationship. As marriage occurs, procreation follows. (2.)Late stage of adulthood: this age is assumed to start from about the age of 40.It is characterized by certain physical changes on the individual ,like the youthful looks disappearing ,noticeable increase in weight around the waist region ,appearing of wrinkles, grey hairs, etc Old stage of Adulthood (Old age): this stage ranges from 65years to death. During this period, a lot declining changes occur in the body systems .All body systems gets effected by ageing process, mobility slows down drastically, pronouncement of pains at joint are more frequent, failure or malfunction of certain organs for example partial or total loss of hearing is noticed, partial or total blindness etc.