Things You Need to Know About Child Development

At Rainbow Palace, child development is an integral aspect in designing our programs. We know how important it is in gaining a better understanding of your child’s own growth process. Here are a few things that you should know about child development:

• Problems such as teratogens during the prenatal period can affect later childhood development. Diseases and genetic issues can also be inherited and impact the child’s development.
• The interaction between genes and environmental factors can influence how a child develops. For instance, a child’s genes might dictate that he grows to be tall. However if he is not properly nourished, it is possible that he will not achieve his full height.
• Parenting styles can also influence child development outcomes. For instance, if a child is raised by authoritative parents, he or she tends to grow up happy and capable. However, if a child is raised by permissive parents, he or she tends to have more problems with authority figures and are less successful with his or her studies.
• In early childhood, growth follows a directional patter with regards to physical development. The center of the body develops before the extremities, large muscles develop before small ones, and development follows a top-down process. It starts at the head and moves down to the toes.
• Baby talk or motherese is proven to help in a child’s speech development. Simplified vocabulary, exaggerated vocalizations, and higher-pitched intonations help babies learn words with greater speed and ease.
• Children with parents who respond quickly to their needs tend to have secure attachment styles. These kids become more empathetic, have stronger self-esteem, and are more mature than children with other attachment styles.
• Based on studies, the authoritative parenting style is often identified as the best way of parenting. It produces children who are competent, confident, and happy. This is because parents with this style of parenting listen to their children and provide care and support, but also identifies limits, expectations, and consequences for behavior.
• Developmental psychologists believe that high quality daycares can be a positive influence on a child.