Jennifer Camilo
What is Child Development?
Child development refers to the sequence of physical, language, thought and emotional changes that occur in a child from birth to the beginning of adulthood. During this process a child progresses from dependency on their parents/guardians to increasing independence. Child development is strongly influenced by genetic factors (genes passed on from their parents) and events during prenatal life. It is also influenced by environmental facts and the child’s learning capacity.
Family, Culture, and Community
A happy and healthy childhood depends on a loving relationship with their family,
regular exposure to the tradition of culture, and participation in a responsive community.
How parents raise their children has profound effects on children’s adjustment. By virtue
of their personalities and activities, children influence parents and other family members in return. Parents and other family members should be active participants in their child’s life, parents and other family members should present affection as well as discipline when they interact with the child. They also encourage children to participate in everyday routines and become involved in their education.
A culture is defined values, traditions, and symbol systems of a long-standing social
group. In the bioecological model, culture gives meaning to the activities, accomplishments, and policies of the society in which the child lives. In this manner, culture helps children experience events as predictable and worthwhile. Culture also adds an intellectual dimension by exposing children to mental tools, instruction in school, advanced discoveries, and creative works of their society.
A child’s community includes the local neighborhood and surrounding areas, which
together create a bond from their family to the outside world. Particularly when children are young, they make friends in their neighborhood, at the local school, on a hometown sports team, or as part of a nearby club or center. As they grow older, youngsters continue to spend spare time in activities that are reasonably close by as they venture farther from home.
Family, Culture, and community together create foundations for child development.
These contexts teach children who they are as human beings, how they should relate to others, and what they can inspire to be as adult.
Biological Beginnings
Biological beginnings is divided into 3 groups: Genetic Foundations, Prenatal
Development, and Birth of the Baby.
Genetic Foundations: every child has a unique profile of hereditary instructions that support his or her life, growth, human traits and individuality.
Genetic foundations is formed by: the structure of genes which tells the body to create
one or more proteins or to regulate the operations of other genes. Operation of genes which is that most genes are identical or at least very similar cross all children, formation of reproductive cells, such as Meiosis, gender, and how twins are created. Genetic basis of individual traits, the awakening of genes, the blending of heredity and environment, and acknowledging natures and nurture in children’s lives. All children have a set of genetic instructions that influence their characteristics at birth and their merging physical and psychological features.
Prenatal Development: the period of growth between conception and birth, a simple
single cell is transformed step by step into a complex human being. Prenatal development
includes phases of prenatal growth, medical care, and supporting parents, protecting babies. At conception, the new offspring inherits a unique genetic makeup that guides the lifelong process of growing, changing, and interacting with the environment.
Birth of the Baby: childbirth is a complex series of events. The steps that culminate in
birth are affected by the health of the mother and baby; the relationships the mother has with family members, friends, midwives, medical personnel, and her partner, should she have one; her preferences for managing the physical strain of labor and delivery; and her cultural traditions and beliefs. Birth of the baby includes the birth process, medical interventions, and enhancing parent’s sensitivity to newborn infants. The birth of a baby is an exciting and sometime nerve-racking event for parents, who can reduce their stress by preparing for childbirth.
References:
McDevitt, T.M, Ormrod, J.E (2015)Child Development and Education, Pearson.
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