How Environment Plays A Major Role In Child's Development

A child’s development is influenced by several factors in life, which can all be summed up under nature and nurture. Regardless of which factor is more influential, we can all agree that where we live and what we experience in life does play a major role in who we eventually become.

What parents might not know is that what they teach their child is not the only factor that will affect their development. The environment their child interacts in – as in-home, neighborhood, and school – significantly influences a child’s emotional, behavioral and physical development. Because this is where they experience how to solve problems, socialize, adopt habits, and develop necessary motor skills.

Here are the top three environmental influences that can affect your child’s development.

Table of Contents

1. Geographical Influences

In Australia, parents believe that the physical surrounding a child is raised in does have a great impact on their personality. Thus, parents care to provide a suitable physical environment in their own home gardens, maintaining it regularly with the help of Perth tree loppers to create a safer wildlife environment for their kids to enjoy. The fact is, spending time outdoors is as crucial as going to school and getting educated.

Geographical influences can be the umbrella of many other physical aspects that will affect your child’s development. Where you live is an important factor, as well as what kind of neighborhood it is, cleanliness, activities, healthcare, and what school your child is attending. If your neighborhood is filled with aggression, most probably your child’s personality will be affected. If where you live is noisy or polluted, your child will have difficulties in cognitive development, reading abilities, physiological indicators, and motivational tasks.

As mentioned earlier, school is an important physical influence considering how much time a child spends there every day. With the right teaching techniques, a teacher can create the proper environment that can stimulate and aid your child’s development and skills acquisition. So, you should always research which school can provide the best environment for your child.

2. Family Influences

The first and main environment your child will experience is the family. Whether they are raised by a single parent, siblings or grandparents, a family’s warmth and love will, with no doubt, affect your child’s development. A successful family that communicates well and provides a loving, healthy and safe environment for their children can preserve their child’s innocence, and help them develop in the most positive way.

Family bonds play a significant role in developing social and personal skills at a very early age. Since birth, the emotional environment parents create will teach their child how to understand and express love and fears. Further down the road, a stable and loving relationship will teach them how to trust and feel secure. In addition, the more the parents listen and value their child’s needs and opinions, the more their child will feel important and valued; which will go a long way in building self-confidence.

In contrast, parents who do not invest time or energy in raising their child, maintain a strong family bond, or expose their child to negative experiences like abuse or neglect, will create a negative environment. This will result in poor development, linguistically, physically, and behaviorally.

3. Economical Influences

Like many other aspects of life, money plays a major role in creating a suitable environment for your child. Finances will determine the neighborhood you live in, the school or daycare your child will enroll in, and even the proper nutrition needed. Furthermore, the need for money increases if you want to secure better academic experiences and travel opportunities for your child, which with no doubt affect their development.

Moreover, economical influences can also affect the family’s bonds. Families with a comfortable financial situation have the privilege of quality time. While in other families, parents may be working two jobs to make ends meet, and so can hardly see their kids or maintain a strong bond.

Another aspect is your child’s perception of money. It is important to speak about finances and how there are things more important than what money can buy. That’s because, at some point, your child will notice your buying and spending behaviors, compare them with others and start questioning why they have a smaller house, or others have a car.

Childhood is the most important and crucial phase in your son or daughter’s life. By choosing the best environment for them, you will be supporting their physical, physiological, and behavioral development. Remember, it is not just a couple of decisions you take, but it is an ongoing thing you will need to observe and modify along the way, whether it be where you live, how you deal with each other at home or economical influences.