For example, Simply Psychology places various approaches to psychology on a continuum:. Between these two extremes are a number of fields that focus on the interplay of nature and nurture in child development. As researchers delve deeper into nature vs.
Genes determine certain human characteristics, such as eye and hair color and the incidence of genetic diseases. However, most human traits, including life expectancy, height, and weight, have both an environmental and genetic component.
Genetic and epigenetic contributions to the learning process are inheritable and interact with behavioral learning such as study habits and the availability of educational resources. In a separate study reported in Psychology Today , researchers determined that toxin-related epigenetic changes, such as those caused by inhaling cigarette smoke, can be passed from parent to child genetically.
The smoke triggers the expression of cancer-causing genes or suppresses the expression of those that protect against cancer. Children can inherit an epigenetic alteration from a parent. Instead, each human behavioral trait is associated with a great number of genetic variants, each of which contributes a very small amount to the expression of the trait.
The differences are evident in activities such as sleeping, crying, eating, socializing, and moving, all of which have clear nature and nurture components, as Firstcry Parenting explains.
Also controlled primarily by heredity are the foods a baby prefers and whether the baby is active or sedentary. For example, babies with poor sleep patterns can benefit from being exposed to sunlight during the day and by parents establishing a bedtime routine that induces better sleep.
Whether a baby is easy to calm and soothe when crying is determined by genes, but swaddling, rocking, swaying, and other activities help overcome this genetic predisposition. Biological psychology examines thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from a physiological perspective, as Verywell Mind describes. It also studies the mechanisms of inheritance via genes on the behavioral likeness of identical twins, for example.
Maintaining age-appropriate expectations of children and setting consistent consequences and privileges based on their behavior will actually help to show children that they are loved in addition to helping keep them safe and secure. More information about disciplining young children can be found here.
It's important to remember that no adults, and especially parents and caregivers, are perfect. Everyone has a bad day now and then.
Caregivers need to expect and to accept that they will make mistakes. However, if caregivers find that they are consistently grouchy, irritable, negative, or sad, they need to get assistance to help them be as healthy and as happy as possible for themselves and for their children. Depressed or otherwise troubled parents can reach out to their support system: friends, grandparents, religious group members, neighbors, etc for encouragement and assistance.
Sometimes though, talking to friends and family members isn't enough. If caregivers have symptoms of low mood, excessive irritability, sleeping or eating problems, or other issues that affect work and interpersonal relationships, obtaining help from a mental health professional is a good idea. Admitting that you need professional help is not a sign of weakness.
It's one of the bravest things caregivers can do to show their children how much they love them and to model good self-care.
Mental health clinicians in the United States can be found in our online therapist directory , or by looking up "mental health" in your local telephone directory. If money is tight and you are worried that you may not be able to afford care, let the agency or therapist know that during your initial contact.
Many mental health agencies and practitioners offer sliding-fee scales reduced fees that are based on a family's level of income to people without insurance or when money is tight.
Beyond showing love and affection, caregivers can nurture young children's growing minds by providing interactive and stimulating activities. While it may be tempting to allow young children to watch lots of television, especially educational or age-appropriate cartoons, it's not healthy. It is also important to explain why the changes are occurring, using appropriate language for their age and stage of development.
Remember the bedraggled favourite teddy with one eye missing that you still love, even though it may now live in a box in the loft? You should encourage children to have responsibility for taking care of their nursery, too.
It is important to involve them as it is their space, and the more comfortable they feel, the easier it will be to ensure that they feel more settled and secure. Even very young children can be given jobs and roles, which will build confidence and self-esteem, along with a sense of belonging. Nursery staff can explain and demonstrate to children how to care for things, and should ensure they do not make assumptions that children know or have experience in how to do this.
Children should also be involved in choosing themes for displays around nursery, and equipment and resources, if appropriate, to reinforce their sense of belonging and ensure they feel that their views are important.
Encouraging staff in nursery to name and express their feelings appropriately is an effective way of helping children to learn to do the same. When an adult is able to share their feelings in an open, honest and appropriate way with a child, it gives them permission to do the same and creates a more positive atmosphere for everyone. It provides a positive experience of articulating feelings, and validates the experience of having them.
The verbal and non-verbal communication that happens between members of staff will be noticed by the children and responded to. For example, a child who notices that a worker always looks unhappy may try to cheer them up or avoid them altogether for fear of upsetting them.
A worker who often appears stressed or anxious may communicate that in the way in which they respond to the children. This can increase the likelihood of the children feeling stressed and anxious, and create an emotionally unhealthy environment for staff and children.
When nursery staff are able to identify the possible feelings that may be evoked in situations and acknowledge this to the children, a deeper understanding and increased self-regulation occurs. What the children see around them can provide powerful messages about being cared for. Walls that are bright and colourful or displays that are changed regularly, rather than tatty and faded, suggest a setting that is looked after and valued. It is important to provide displays with an emotional focus, for example, displays showing feelings faces, perhaps with images next to them — maybe a child looking sad when they drop their ice cream on the floor or angry when another child takes a toy from them.
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