CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN BRIEF

The first emotional and psychological developments occur through the interaction between parent and baby.  This article provides a brief insight into how an infant develops emotionally, and the importance of the primary care giver’s role in this process.

 The Importance of Emotional Development

The parent(s) are the first window of opportunity for a child.  This is not necessarily about financial stability or social status, but the emotional and mental stability and the external support the primary care giver(s) has.  Before school and play groups, a child’s template of relating, learning, and developing is based on the primary care giver(s).  The very first experiences and understandings of life are internalised from the primary caregiver(s) as the infant uses their carers’ mental capabilities as theirs develops.

The baby:

• experiences their parents’ moods as if they were their own;
• learns how to communicate to others, including themselves;
• takes in how the parent(s) relates to other people, siblings, partner, family

members, and strangers.

Outside Influences

As the child grows in their ability to hold, manage, and process their experiences, their environment outside their primary attachment(s) and close family members becomes more influential.  New experiences (school, moving house, holidays, activities) and relationships (teachers, peers, siblings) will challenge and at times be in conflict with one’s original template of understanding and relating.

Child’s Unique Internal Constitution

There is another very important variable in a child’s development which is present from the very beginning and that is their unique constitution. How a child internalises their experiences will make a direct impact on how they grow and who they grow into, despite their external experiences.

Society & Culture

The society and culture with which a child grows up in and/or is surrounded by, also influences a child’s development.  The values and laws which the society upholds and the cultural customs and beliefs which the child is exposed to, determines, and colours the experiences to which the child is subjected to.

Support

If you are looking for help in understanding your child’s development and your relationship with your child or perhaps you wish to understand your own past experiences, childhood and up bringing to support you in your role as a parent, get in touch to discuss how Life Studio could support you.