The term development refers to qualitative changes in an individual such as changes in personality or other mental and emotional aspects. However, very often growth and development are used interchangeably. The process of development continues even after the individual has attained physical maturity (growth). The individual is continuously changing as he/she interacts with the environment. There are some principles of development, which show the features of development, these are:Principle of Continuity: Development follows the principle of continuity which starts with conception and ends with death. It is a never-ending process in life.Principle of Individual Differences: It says that every individual is unique in himself/herself as the heredity and environmental factors make him/her different from others.Principle of Generality to Specificity: The development process starts with general responses shown by the child as s/he passes through the later stages s/ he starts exhibiting specific behaviors.Principle of Interrelation: The development of an individual is reflected through the balanced interrelation of all the aspects of life. Development in any aspect affects the other aspect also.Principle of Interaction: The principle of interaction suggests that an individual is the product of heredity and environment. In other words, the interaction takes place within and outside forces of the child.Principle of Differentiation in Rate: Differentiation in the rate indicates that individuals differ in the rate of development. There is a difference in the rate of development in girls and boys like girls grow faster than the boys at the early stage of development.Principle of Integration: The principle of Integration refers to the integration of various aspects of development like physical, mental, emotional, social, and moral.Principle of Predictability: Development is predictable i.e. with the help of the uniformity of the pattern and sequence of development, we can predict the behavior to a great extent of a child in one or more aspects in a particular stage of her/his growth and development.Principle of Sequentiality: It states that every individual although exhibit difference in change, they follow the same sequence of change.?Important Points Characteristics of development are:Development is a continuous process, it occurs throughout life, and the pace of development may be varying at different ages.Development is sometimes predictable as it follows a similar pattern of development as Cephelocaudal and Proximodistal.Developments depended on both heredity and environment, according to Woodworth development is a product of heredity and environment.Example: Color of eyes, hairs of the child is same as their parents because of inheritance.Children can learn much from their environment as such, from school culture, their society, their peer groups, etc.Development is not linear in shape it is spiral and it can be back and forth throughout life.