Childhood, especially the early years, is the most rapid period of learning as well as growth in a person’s life. What takes place (or doesn’t take place) during this crucial period can have lifelong consequences.
A positive start promotes the development of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills which in turn, help build a strong foundation for success and well-being in one’s later life. So, what does a positive start look like?
Nurturing begins in the womb
Human development results from the dynamic interplay of nature (genetic and biological inheritance) and nurture (environmental factors). From the moment of conception, a person’s genetic disposition unfolds in concert with the social and physical environment in which they thrive. Anything that happens around them, e.g. even the physical and emotional wellbeing of their mother while they’re in the womb influences their outcome as human fetuses.
After being born, children’s survival, well-being, and development are dependent on and built around nurturing and dependable relationships. The emotional bonds that children develop with parents and caregivers provide a secure base from which to explore their environment.
When parents interact with a young child in ways that involve many warm, responsive exchanges, self-esteem blooms, and behavioral problems are minimised. Loving, effective responses influence the person that children will grow up to be.
The critical learning years
A young child’s brain is a chaotic jungle of neurons that are constantly establishing and reinforcing connections with each other. A child’s early experiences will determine how these neural circuits become wired and thus determine the actual architecture of the brain. Exposing young children to a variety of stimuli is important as it provides them with the best opportunities for learning and growth during a period when their minds are most ready to absorb new information.
However, focusing merely on education without the health component will ultimately undermine the development outcomes of young children. Health in the earliest years lays the groundwork for a lifetime of vitality. Good nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and sound mental health are important for children to thrive and grow into healthy adults.
Nurturing a child’s whole development
Developmental domains are interrelated in a young child’s overall development. They cannot afford to lose out one any for they enhance each other in terms of a child’s whole development. Developmental issues in any one area can delay development in other areas. This is why early childhood development programs today focus on these domains as a whole, offering children a chance for complete development and a simply brighter future.
Domains of development
On the whole, children are ready and eager to learn. While each child develops at their own pace, all children progress through an identifiable sequence of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth. They are constantly gaining new skills to improve their interaction with the world around them.
Physical
Children between 1 to 6 are an active, energetic lot! Through hours of play, they are developing and refining their gross and fine motor skills, like balance, coordination, dexterity, and agility. Walking, running, climbing, and jumping becomes more automatic and less of a conscious act. Activities like writing, drawing, and basic self-care improves as they acquire strength in and more control over the use of their hands and fingers.
Cognitive
Early childhood is a time of remarkable mental development. As a child plays and uses their imagination, they are enhancing their cognitive abilities associated with memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and thinking. Their vocabulary grows rapidly and their use and understanding of language continue to mature.
Emotional
As children grow and are exposed to different scenarios, their emotional lives become more complex. They begin to learn more about feelings and emotions, understand how and why they happen, recognise their feelings, and realise that others have feelings too. They must learn how to manage their feelings, for the ability to respond to this complexity and the possible range of emotions will have an impact on their choices, their behavior, and their quality of life.
Social
Positive social interactions and healthy relationships with parents, teachers, caregivers, and peers from a young age are critical for building a sense of security and self-confidence in children. This lays a strong foundation for social skills and relationship building.
