"Education is growth" is Dewey's view that explains the essence of education by focusing on personal factors or psychology.

The theory of growth represents Dewey's view of children's development. Influenced by Rousseau's thought and citing the concept of "growth" in biology, Dewey believes that education is the normal growth of various natural tendencies and abilities, and both children and adults can grow up, but the growth of children is unique because children have great "dependence" and "plasticity" and the ability to learn from experience. Educators should respect the needs and opportunities of children's growth and attach importance to the process of growth. Dewey believes that growth is a continuous and staged dynamic psychological development process. People's psychological growth is endless, but the normal growth of children's nature and ability has certain procedures. Growth must be based on children's instinct and ability. Children are born with four instincts, which can also be called impulse or interest, namely, social instinct, manufacturing instinct, investigation instinct and artistic instinct. The growth of children should be guided to the formation of habits. The growth of children's instinct and ability is accomplished and realized through the activities of constantly reorganizing and transforming their own experiences.