Parenting has always been a responsibility. It’s the kind of parenting that shapes the development of children. In other words, human development is influenced by our parents.
However, in the contemporary times, when use of social media has become a norm and technology continues to sweep almost every segment of human life, one should not assume that the approach to parenting that worked for their mothers and fathers will be equally successful in their own families. Parents, and the home environments they create, can also have an important influence on a child’s development. In fact, the home environment will shape the mindset of the children.
Actually, the parents can help children to thrive through their consistent approach and who can give them a sense of security. Here, it’s most important for the parents to note that childhood neglect can disrupt development, perhaps even more than abuse does and can lead to mental health issues in children. It’s equally important that parents are far from the only influence in their child’s life, the behaviour of siblings, grandparents, neighbours, peers and celebrities also influences the child’s mindset.
Acts of abuse and neglect may disrupt cognitive and language development and socialisation of the child. It will definitely hamper a child’s ability to develop trust or self-esteem, or to form healthy relationships with others. The effects of abuse or neglect often linger for years, which result in serious mental health issues in a child.
However, there are instances which showcase that many children raised in difficult environments develop resilience and develop strong mental health to thrive as adults.
We, as parents, have to keep in mind that every child develops at their own pace, and while one may take their first steps earlier than most, or say their first words later than most, neither is likely to affect their ultimate capabilities.
To be precise, early childhood is a pivotal period of child development. The experiences and opportunities offered in early childhood lay the foundation for how children grow, learn, build relationships, and prepare for school.
It’s notable that a child does not grow in a silo. The health of their family, community, safety of their environment as well as the systems and policy all interact to affect the trajectory and health, particularly the mental health of a child.
As rightly put by experts, children and adolescents need to be nurtured, and it is the responsibility of all parties involved, parents, educators, the government, legislators, and society at large to support their mental health. Failure to address their mental health issues has long-term implications on one’s physical and emotional well-being, as well as limits one’s ability to lead a satisfying adult life.
So, child development is the most important task for parents. They should not look at it as just a child becoming bigger. They have to understand that it involves the development of a child in many areas – physical, mental, emotional, psychosocial and so on. We may define child development as a progressive series of changes of an orderly and coherent type toward the goal of maturity with sound mental health.