Parents play an important role in the overall development of their child. It is the right guidance of parents that develops the character of the child. Parenting is a never-ending job. It is not something you can get away from once the time comes, because children need their parents from time to time, to stay on the right track. Here’s all that you need to know about the role of parents in the development of their child.
Importance of the Role of Parents in Child Development
Parenting and child development go hand in hand. The proverbs that the apple does not fall far from the tree and that the branch grows as the twig grows can well-describe the effects of parenting styles on child growth and development.
All development is interrelated and cannot be defined under water-tight categories. So let us focus on how parents can actively participate to ensure that the child’s growing years are worthy. The role of parents in child development is responsive, responsible and never-ending. It governs responses, actions, thinking and decision making of a child in the following areas.
1. Cognitive Development
When children are growing up, positive parenting improves their cognitive, social and problem-solving skills. Positive parenting also affects their responses and helps them grow up to be better humans. Interaction and stimulation are very important in the early years. It is all about recognizing problems, handling all situations well and picking up the traits of discipline, time management and effective problem-solving through simple routines at home.
2. Socio-Cultural Development
Children observe spousal interaction and how arguments are settled in the family. It teaches them a variety of good values that are imbibed and crucial to growing up. The child learns how to behave with others, playing to a common goal, team spirit, picking right friends and a lot more.
3. Physical Development
Reaching age-related milestones is not the only goal. Children learn about being healthy, exercising regularly, being a team player, having the right diet and growing in a conducive environment through the play and learn way. The right guidance from parents can inculcate in children a good regimen of exercise and diet to achieve ideal physical development. Parents should remember that children lead by example.
4. Mental Development
Parenting styles help the child learn innovatively, accepting failures and overcoming them, understanding discipline, accepting feedback and the award and punishment concept. It governs their response to stimuli, thus moulding their minds.
5. Spiritual Development
Understanding religion, prayer, knowing right from wrong, being empathetic, having the right ethical values, valuing your parents and strengthening goal setting liberates the free spirit in children. Teaching your children to be more accepting and believing in the greater good can help them gain a sense of purpose. Try not to conform them to any particular religion and let them explore spirituality on their own.
Some Useful Parenting Tips to Make Your Child’s Growing Years Worthy
Children naturally turn to the father to play and to the mother if they sense stress, fear etc. But gone are the days when fathers were bread providers and mothers did all the nurturing and interaction.
The role of a father in child development is very important. Children will always look up to their father for motivation. Similarly, the role of a mother in child development has moved on and is not restricted to nurturing and caretaking alone. From that first touch and look, to later years, a parent is responsible for making the tiny infant into a well grown, responsible and caring adult. This list of child development tips is not gender-specific and is equally applicable to both parents.
1. Be Positive
Children can easily sense negativity. No matter how young your child is, discuss your problems with him and how you handle them. Encourage your child to participate with you in different small household tasks. Teach him how to be creative and how to solve problems with a positive attitude.
2. Be Sensitive to Your Child’s Needs
Irrespective of how small your child’s needs are, understanding and fulfilling them is very important to help your child realize that you are there for him at all times and that his needs never go unheard.
3. Be Emotionally Present
Encouragement and love yield good fruit only when they are cultivated, worked on, nurtured & pruned. Show your child that he is loved all the time and that you are always there for him, no matter what.
4. Communicate Effectively
Talk to the child and hear what he has to say before jumping to conclusions. In every conversation, make sure you think from your child’s perspective and let him express himself. Remember, positive feedback is always better than negative punishment or blames.
5. Be Affectionate to All
Children pick up what they see/hear at home. To a child, using harsh words, quarrelling loudly, fighting constantly, incorporating bad habits and swearing feels absolutely normal if he sees the same at home.
6. Set Routines for Play, Eating and Sleep
A good routine can help set good habits for the future. If you stick to a fixed routine, eat and sleep on time, refrain from watching the television during meals, then your child too will pick up these lessons and follow a routine.
7. Make Family Outings a Part of Your Routine
Remember, the family that eats and prays together stays together! Encourage your child to have family meals together and teach him the importance of spending quality time with family members.
8. Talk to The Child Even when Tired
Hard work gives immense satisfaction and the reward for you is watching your child learn how to deal with problems, how to deal with financial insecurities, how to interact with others and how to be a little like you. So talk to your child no matter how tired you are at the end of the day. He will learn the same and be there for his family, just like you.
9. Build Trust, Love and Fair-Play in Relationships
Best examples are between the parents, in dealing with siblings and especially in quarrels. If you behave rationally with all the family members, then your children will learn the same and will end up loving and caring for all without discriminating.
10. Help Your Child Understand The Importance of Speaking Right and Honestly
Make sure your child values honesty, especially when it comes to matters that involve relationships and money. teach him that no matter what, he should speak the truth and stick to what he says. Also, inculcate in your child a sense of responsibility.
11. Assure Your Unconditional Love and Support
If your child fails at something, make an effort to understand why and what to do before you criticize him. But over that, tell him that mistakes do not reduce the love between people.
Just remember supportive families encourage each other to learn and offer the possibility to be better.
