INTRODUCTION
The controversy over which is more responsibly for human development, nature or nurture, has been going on for many years. Although there is still much research to be done in the field, we can examine how one or the other affects growth in certain ways. Among the factors are a young child's innate abilities, high or low quality parental care, and a knowledge of how a young child develops.
INNATE ABILITIES
When children are born, they already possess many skills necessary to survive in the world. These skills may be classified into three categories – mental, social, and physical. All of these types of factors influence how the young child develops.
MENTAL CAPABILITIES
A child's mental capabilities in early life are not as limited as one might think. At birth, they already have intelligent capabilities. Among these are memory and pattern matching that allow recognition of people and objects (Berk, 2000, p. 143). This memory, through classical conditioning, can allow young infants to change their behavior to elicit a certain reward. Not only do children have this ability to adapt to new situations, but they also have an innate need to learn. In addition, children inherit various reaction ranges, which determine how much a particular trait is influenced by the favorableness of a child's environment (Berk, 2000, p. 121).
SOCIAL CAPABILITIES
Infants exhibit social skills and also have differing temperaments from very early on. Even in the womb, fetuses have different patterns of activity; some are active all the time, and others are more sedate. This shows that babies have individual personalities before they are born (Berk, 2000, p. 96). Infants also exhibit social skills when they communicate by smiling or crying. Additionally, infants form strong ties with their caregivers by reacting to their emotions, by mimicking facial expressions (Berk, 2000, p. 143). Infants do not simply have an ability to form relationships with others; they have an innate need for intimacy with others (Scoresby, 1997, p. 16).
PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES
Infants' many inherited physical skills ensure their survival outside of the womb. Their sucking instincts allow them to feed, swimming skills allow them to survive if dropped in the water, and the "Moro" reflex allows infants to hang on to parents. Babies also have other instinctual movements that prepare them for later activities such as reaching and walking (Berk, 2000, p. 129).
GOOD PARENTAL CARE
Although children are born with innate characteristics and skills, parents can influence their child's development positively through several methods.
POSITIVE STIMULATION
One example of high quality care is providing a good example for children. Because infants develop primarily through imitation of parents, caregivers can influence their children's development by acting positively (Berk, 2000, p. 143). Loving, caring parents are more likely to raise loving, happy children than those who portray anger and sadness for their children to emulate. Because young children are so impressionable, adults need to be especially careful that they do not let their emotions overcome their rationality. With positive stimulation, infants learn positive behavior and develop more quickly.
ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT
Another way of helping children develop well is by raising the upper level of their zone of proximal development. This zone of proximal development is the region between children's inherited abilities and their potential based on the environment provided for them (Scoresby, 1997, p. 33). By providing a stimulating environment, a parent can increase a child's opportunities for growth.
RESPONDING TO NEEDS
When adults recognize and respond to children's innate needs, kids can develop positively. For example, recognizing a child's instinctive need for knowledge would prompt a parent to teach their child in ways she can understand at her particular age. When parents realize that their children need intimacy to grow, they will make efforts to cuddle and praise their child accordingly.
LOW QUALITY PARENTAL CARE
Just as high quality care can help children develop quickly and positively, low quality care hinders children's growth.
INATTENTION AND NEGLECT
Inattention, or more severely, neglect, hinders a child's development. Especially in their early years, children learn mostly from their parents. If parents do not play with and show affection for their children, not only will they not be able to learn as well, but the children will also begin to believe that their parents don't love them. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, developing trust in parents is a vital part of infants' early growth (Berk, 2000, p. 19). Without proper care and affection, children will not be able to develop this trust, and therefore may not progress as easily.
NEGATIVE ATTENTION
Conversely, attention of the wrong kind can also damage a child. For example, if a parent loses her temper and yells at or hits a child, they will also be unable to develop the trust Erikson claimed was so important. Additionally, a parent may try to comfort a crying child, but if they are not able to interpret their infant's needs, they will be giving the wrong kind of attention. Not only are the infant's needs not being met, but this can also lead to frustration and anger in the parent, which can cause mistrust in the child. Also important to this trust is a predictable routine of care. When a parent takes care of a child in the same way, at the same times, every day, it is easier for the child to trust the parent.
IMPATIENCE When a child is a little older (after 12 months), they enter the stage of autonomy versus shame and doubt (Berk, 2000, p. 19). The child is then especially susceptible to parents' impatience. When a parent gets impatient with a learning child and does a task for them, the child loses his sense of autonomy and cannot progress as well. Furthermore, if a parent tries to push a child's development in an area in which they are not yet capable, the training will have little or no effect (Scoresby, 1997, p. 20). Impatience does not help development, and can even hinder it if the parent's attitude causes the child to doubt himself.
UNDERSTANDING LEADS TO HIGH QUALITY CARE
How can caregivers learn how to provide high quality care? One powerful way is to learn about children's stages and areas of development. This way, parents will know ahead of time what to expect, and how to react to their children's behavior.
GROWTH VERSUS CONTROL
Parents sometimes have a tendency to plan out their children's lives, or desire to control them. With a healthy developmental perspective of child growth, parents can shift their focus to helping their children progress and become adults, even if it means their children may not advance how parents want them to. For example, a parent who wants his child to become a piano player may force her to take piano lessons at a very young age. However, with a developmental perspective, the father will realize that lessons at such a young age may not do any good, and also that the child's strengths may lie in other areas. Parents can also be more compassionate to their children when they recognize the natural progression stages and patterns children go through.
THE THREE AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT
Knowledge of the three areas of child development also promotes healthy child raising. When a parent understands the physical development of her infant, she may also understand that he must crawl before he can walk. This will prevent her from trying to push his development in an area before he is ready. A parent who understands mental development will understand that a two-year-old cannot sit still for more than a minute or two, and will not expect him to sit through a movie in a theatre. With an understanding of social development, a parent will realize the importance of showing affection to an infant.
CONCLUSION
Children are born with innate skills, characteristics, and needs that adults cannot change. However, parents also influence their children's development. This influence can either be positive or negative, depending on the parents' actions. By understanding how children progress, parents can understand how to positively affect development and help their children grow into successful adults.
REFERENCE LIST
Scoresby, Lynn A., and Price, Alvin. (1997). Understanding Child Development. Orem, UT: Knowledge Gain Publications.
Berk, Laura E. (2000). Child Development. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. 8