Childhood and Infancy development

Since the turn of the century, parenting has undergone a considerable transformation because to the increased availability of information from complex research that aim to identify the best practices for raising infants and supporting their development throughout later childhood. Famous thinkers from the 18th century, like John Locke of England and Jean-Jacques Rousseau of France, put out suggestions on parenting. Rosseau, on the other hand, centered his counsel on rich families who were to immerse their children in beauty and environment. Rosseau said that Locke emphasized that Children are blank slates thus requiring guidance on the best way to conduct themselves. (Rossue, however, gave children that he had with his mistress to foundling homes where majority passed away). Parenting in the 18th and 19thcenturies were characterized barbarism that was merely based on speculations. Care and attention to infants were linked to spoiling them. Mothers got discouraged from kissing their children and absurd practices like placing well-wrapped children out in the balcony when it’s snowing to toughen them. All these trends including the lack of interest by physicians in child care led to high infant mortality and the poor development of children. The text aims to explore suitable parenting practices in practice presently (Holden, 2009).

Contrary to previous beliefs, studies have revealed that the optimal approach to children’s development that facilitates their social skill and cognitive development is responsive parenting. In infants, responsive parenting allows for the establishment of secure attachment that is a strong emotional bond that the baby develops towards its parents. The baby equally develops trust, better self-confidence, and better self-esteem. Such children develop a positive attitude towards life thus able to overcome life’s challenges and establish long lengthy relationships. Infants with a high level of trust are more sociable, cry less often, explore their environments more and are easier to manage. Responsive parents are sensitive to babies’ unique individual needs such as feeding, diaper changing and dressing thus resulting in the creation of a regular, consistent pattern. Responsive parents are equally gentle in physical closeness and touch when handling the baby, they closely listen to the baby and observe it thus, for instance, distinguishing meaning in cries, nonverbal cues, respond to early infant language and grant the baby abundant face time(Berk,2004 ).

In subsequent stages of childhood, responsive parenting should assume a more authoritative angle. Authoritative parenting enhances positive mood, new task mastery, independence, self-confidence, and cooperativeness among children. Such children subsequently develop moral and social maturity, academic achievement and high self-esteem (middle school and adolescence stage). Caring and warm adults justify their demands with elaborate explanations thus granting children the chance to determine the suitability of their requirements. When children get to view demands as reasonable and fair, they are more likely to adhere to demands made by parents. Warm and parents avoid negative and indifferent tendencies like frequent ridicule and criticism that leads to an inferiority complex in children thus the lack of confidence in themselves in the countering of their daily challenges. In instances of reprimand, children of caring parents are often greatly displeased, and they subsequently strive to regain parental warmth and approval as quick as possible. Care should, however, be taken to avoid over pampering of children (Berk, 2004). Authoritative parenting should grant children the opportunity to grapple with their natural environment and overcome small daily challenges they may come across in preparation for increased resilience and preparedness in subsequent life. Parent and teachers should be supportive to children through sharing of understanding on skills and ideas and subsequently establish a support system suitable for the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. Social environments that are dictated by factors such as race, religion, ethnicity and other cultural determinants make parent comparatively different in given settings. Parents should, however, strive to adhere to responsive and authoritative parenting (Spiegel, 2008).

Previously adults and extended members of the family were ready to play the role of parents. In present times, however, more restriction in families and neighbourhoods is observable. Factors such as employments and divorces that lead to single parenthoods compromise the effectiveness of parenting. The absence of parental guidance will inevitably lead to a lack of supervision and increased kill mannerism from children.

Reference

Berk, L. E. (2004). Awakening children’s minds: How parents and teachers can make a difference. Oxford University Press, USA.

Holden, G. W. (2009). Parenting: A dynamic perspective. Sage.

Spiegel, A. (2008). Old-fashioned play builds serious skills. Message posted to http://www. npr. Org/templates/story/story. php.