Factors affecting child's development

For a healthy child the first seven formative years are very important for his physical and mental growth. The child’s genetic potential and learning opportunities are important elements which largely affect his mental and physical growth. By birth each baby arrives in the world with his few unique abilities of interests, inclinations and skills. But, for the further enhancements of his natural abilities it is very important that how many and what kind of opportunities and environments the parents are providing to him. Often the child having capacity and enterprising nature develops a psychological problem just because of his criticism, comparison and competitions with others. It is the responsibility of parents to provide him a healthy, a conducive, and an encouraging environment and therefore they must keep the following elements in the mind:

Physical Health:

A total Freedom to do activities, encouragements to do desired activities, a proper guidance from the parents to overcome his limitations, and healthy and hygienic homely foods make the child fit, healthy and strong. Control over the activities, negative remarks and completely commanding the child makes him depressive. The depression makes the child angry and lazy. Sometimes too much control and sicknesses often makes the child habitually angry and pigheaded. Such children often show symptoms of stress, fear and anxiety. The children grownup by mother with her own breast-feeding are found more healthy and energetic. These children are having higher level of adaptability to learn and accept new things.

Cheerful Environment:

It can be said, “The words Happiness and Health are like twins”, or “A Happy child will be a healthier child too!!” The child growing-up in happiness is often found healthier. The happier child quickly develops his social relationship, attract others, and get his job done. The atmosphere filled with tension and unhappiness is resulting into diminishing the abilities of the child. Such children are developing a tendency to become negative, timid, protective and non-enterprising. The parents need to understand that rather than facilities and amenities, their attitudes, love and environments make the children happier.

Manners and Attitudes:

The positive attitude, attachment with the ground realities and setting of realistic goals make the child more successful and these elements even make the unsuccessful child to stand-up again against the difficult circumstances. It is the responsibility of the parents to give an opportunity to the talents of their child. It is better for the parents to adjust their attitudes and manners in tandem with the mould prepared by the Almighty for their child rather than imposing their own mould on him. Therefore, the interests, efforts, time and patience shown by the parents in teaching new things to the child make him successful. The parents have to make constant efforts for the child to teach him positive attitudes and making good friends.

Child’s status in the Family & Competition:

Normally the first child of the family draws maximum attention, help, guidance, cooperation, and importance. Mostly these children are growing as a dependent child. Normally, the medical attention sought by the second child of the family would not be as much as by the firstchild. The struggles and attempts needed to be made by the second child for his privileges make him stubborn. Sometimes the age gap of 3-4 or more years between two children could cause more problems. Often, a noticeable vast gap appears in behavioural attitudes between the children grown-up in the joint and the satellite families. Similarly, the competitions, comparisons, and criticism between two children of the same family by its members are also affecting their personality in a very big way.

Security:

The children nurtured-up in the safe and secure environments are growing-up as physically healthier and mentally stubborn. These children are having more confidence, clarity in expressions, and tendency to take leadership. Compared to the children grown-up in insure and unsafe environments, the children nurtured in the safe and secure atmosphere are more focused and capable to learn, matured, and ahead in developing social relationships.

The children grown up in insecure environment, under constant negative attitude, and criticism are lacking of confidence and tend to reserve in developing new relationships. These children are falling into depression after a little failure, finding it hard to survive in struggles, and unable to utilize their genetic potentiality to full.

Beside these, other factors like tension, relationship between mother and father, encouragements, school environment, co-education activities and the ambitions of the family are also affecting their healthy growth.