Identify and discuss the factors that influence development and learning and effects on the development of the individual. Specific reference will also be made to physical and psychological changes and the effects of aging on the individual, family and society. Development is the process that every individual goes through; the process includes learning and acquiring skills, such as sitting, walking, speaking and as the process continues the skills become more advanced such as; tie shoelaces. There are five main areas of development; Cognitive, Speech and Language, Social and Emotional, Fine Motor Skills and General Motor Skills, (Do2learn.com, 2013). According to (Oxforddictionaries.com, 2013), learning is “the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or teaching.” In the first half of this essay, two main factors that contrast with each other and influence development and learning, as well as effects on the development of children and young people, will be examined and linked to theory. In the second half of the essay we will focus on aging, focusing from early childhood to adolescence and on physical and psychological changes; along with the effects on the child, family and society. There are many factors that can influence the development and learning of a child or young person; the two main factors considered are biological and social. These two factors are recognized as the nature versus nurture debate; the naturalistic side of the debate believes that the way individuals behave and develop is the result of their genetics, while the cultural side believes that an individual's behavior and development are shaped by external factors. Focusing on external factors, these are the factors that are said to influence… middle of the paper… at the optional level behave most like such. In this phase puberty occurs for both males and females, physically both bodies change in height, weight, growth of pubic hair and onset of menstruation for females (Tanner, 1962). There is a strong effect on the families or parents of the teenage child as they do not see him as often. This is due to the fact that the adolescent or adolescent begins to strive for independence, spending less time with family and more with friendships (Global Post, 2013). In conclusion with the essay focusing on the effects of certain factors on development and learning it gave the opportunity to see how vital development is to a child's growth in all areas of development as both the positive and the negative ones. As well as also focusing on aging and the importance of the physical and psychological changes that occur.