Family Environment and Child Development
Family plays the main role in the development of child’s personality, especially in early childhood. Parents of the underage person, as well as his or her closest family members, develop in the child those qualities that will be essential in the adult life. Therefore, the significance of family education and upbringing is reflected in the idea that they immerse the child in the environment in which he or she can acquire common values (Charlesworth, 2016). However, if the upbringing is ineffective or ignores the characteristics of the young individual, this person is likely to develop distorted representations or psychological issues that are difficult to change. The purpose of this paper is to review the importance of family in child’s development and provide guidelines to ensure a harmonious family environment.
Different Views on the Issue
Many researchers emphasize the significance of school in the socialization of a child and his or her integration in society. Kindergarten, school, and other institutions perform the educational function in conjunction with upbringing (Berns, 2015). Nevertheless, the evolvement of the moral and ethical potential in a minor is not the primary task of educational institutions since they perform this function indirectly. In order to ensure that children acquire universal values and rely on moral postulates in their decision-making, it is necessary for the family environment to have certain features. Interestingly, when compiling a social profile of a child, teachers, social workers, and other key stakeholders determine the welfare and completeness of family, education of parents, and so on (Charlesworth, 2016). However, these are the external factors, and they do not determine the development of child’s personality.
It should be emphasized that social status of parents and other family members, as well as their financial well-being, have a great importance in providing for the child and enable satisfying his or her material needs. Nevertheless, they will influence the formation of child’s identity only when parents do not pay the particular attention to their moral values when raising children. In addition, the completeness of family and the presence or absence of some members also have an indirect influence on the formation of personality and self-perception of a minor (Charlesworth, 2016). Statistics evidenced that children who grew up in financially disadvantaged or in single-parent families exhibited high results in studies and achieved success in adulthood, which became possible through the introduction of spiritual values when communicating with the family. Experts in the fields of psychology and education argue that the main parameters of a balanced family are the caring and sympathetic attitude of parents towards the child and other members, mutual understanding between individuals, constant open communication, and the desire to bring up a strong and responsible person (Charlesworth, 2016). Consequently, financial well-being, family completeness or any other parameters do not participate in the formation of child’s identity.
Essentials of Harmonious Family Environment
Experts in the field of childhood development note that the basis for the successful evolvement of child’s personality and the platform for his or her harmonious development is a respectful attitude towards the minor from the side of family members (Charlesworth, 2016). It is crucial for the growing person to feel respect and support unconditionally and not only as a form of reward for proper behavior. A child, whose opinion and preferences are respected, will treat differences in people tolerantly and will be able to express his or her individual position. Indifferent or neglecting attitude towards child’s personality and his or her interests will provide the basis for detachment from the family and the search for sources to defuse accumulated stress (for instance, through harmful habits, nervous breakdowns and so on) (LeCroy & Anthony, 2014). This will also have a detrimental effect on the child’s self-esteem and may provoke isolation and aggression.
Therefore, the child should always feel the respect and favor of parents even in a conflict situation. If the growing individual should be punished, the reprimand should not undermine the person’s dignity but force him or her to evaluate the actions critically and compare this assessment with the values promoted by the family (Cummings & Schatz, 2012). In addition, it is necessary for the child to see the way parents communicate with each other and with other people so that he or she can be convinced of the applicability and relevance of these values.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that since early childhood, individuals find themselves in a certain setting with which they interact continuously. It forms certain traits in them; however, individual features of a person evolve from the family environment. Consequently, environmental factors have an indirect meaning for the development of child’s personality while close people play the primary role in it. In order to form the personality of a child, it is necessary to interact with him or her constantly and promote certain values and norms through respectful communication, which will give the growing person an opportunity not only to assimilate human values but also to apply them during interaction with family.
References
Berns, R. (2015). Child, family, school, community (10th ed.). Cengage.
Charlesworth, R. (2016). Understanding child development (10th ed.). Cengage.
Cummings, E. M., & Schatz, J. N. (2012). Family conflict, emotional security, and child development: Translating research findings into a prevention program for community families. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15(14), 14-27.
LeCroy, C., & Anthony, E. (2014). Case studies in child, adolescent, and family treatment (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.