Child Development Nature and Nurture—genetics and experience impact our development

Personality traits are influenced by genetics and experience Predisposed toward being shy, sensitive to change in environment, impulsive, being a risk-taker and a good problem solver. Environment strongly influences how these traits are played out Self-esteem and talents strongly influenced by nurture

Children’s brain development strongly influenced by early experiences Enriched environments are ones that provide stimulating and encouraging interactions that will enhance brain development Deprived environments are ones that provide few interactions and minimal stimulation and so impede brain development

Examples of Deprived Environments Orphanages where infants and toddlers are provided few social interactions Homes where the parents are over-whelmed, depressed or indifferent so unable to provide encouragement or stimulation to their children Homes where parents are over-protective and controlling and so severely limit their childrens’ range of experiences

Behaviors of children who are raised in deprived environments Have low levels of energy and alertness as they have received little encouragement but, instead, much extinction Will be slow processers of information as given minimum stimulation & practice at processing stimuli Have low-self esteem and confidence in their ability to make a difference as rarely given opportunities to interact with challenges

Deprived environment also impedes the development of a child’s brain Since the brain has not been exercised, few interconnections and neural networks will be developed This will reduce the child’s brain power for their entire life

Examples of enriched environments Children are given much affection and encouragement Their caregivers talk and verbally interact much of the time via smiles, babbling and language smiling Are given stimulating & challenging environment to explore: at home and outside of the home They are highly valued and deeply loved

Behaviors of children raised in enriched, loving environments Children will be alert, highly motivated, confident and socially skilled They will have a high level of autonomy (independence) and they will be able to take risks They will have a strong sense of security that will allow them to develop many social relationships and to take initiative in their work and play

How will an enriched environment impact brain development The brain will respond by making many interconnections among the neurons, thereby increasing the brain’s circuitry and brain power

Crucial Nature of Positive Reinforcement Children thrive on being told what they are doing right—more specific, the better Extinction is an excellent approach to discouraging behavior: tantrums, whining Us of logical consequences & time-out also discourage behaviors

Hitting & Yelling Just Plain Dumb Scares children and can make them feel anxious and/or angry Teaches what to not to do instead of what to do Use logical & low-key consequences to discourage behaviors

Infants are alert and actively processing their environment right from the start

Infants show impressing processing abilities! They prefer complex and novel patterns over simple and familiar patterns They prefer faces that look at them versus faces that are looking away They prefer familiar faces over stranger’s faces They can imitate the facial expressions of others

Babies thrive if given a lot of love and affection

What determines the quality of attachment infants develop? Quality of attachment is strongly influenced by the quality of interactions between the parent and their infant a) Parents who provide show sensitive responsiveness to their infant’s needs will have securely attached child b) Parents who are not very attentive, aware or concerned with their infant’s needs will have an insecurely attached child

How Measure Attachment “Strange Situation” 1. Parent and child come into a new room and play together for 5 minutes or so 2. Parent leaves for 5 minutes 3. Parent returns

How secure versus insecure children respond to strange situation Securely attached children become distressed when parent leaves the room but are quickly and easily comforted when parent returns Children with an ambivalent attachment will cry when parent leaves but continue crying when parent returns Children with an avoidant attachment do not cry when parent leaves and avoids parent when they return

A Secure Baby is a Happy Baby

Personality traits of secure toddler Socially skilled Confident with a high-self-esteem Independent and autonomous Curious and competent

Personality traits of insecurely attached toddler Clingy and needy Not able to initiate social interactions Not very curious or independent Lower IQ as well as academic performance