1. Influencing Child Development: Heredity & Environment

2. Heredity: It’s in the genes!
Modified from

3. What is heredity?
Heredity is the passing of traits from parent to offspring.
You inherit traits from your parents

4. What are traits? Eye Color Hair Color Height Weight Body Structure
Facial Features
Skin Color

5. What traits did you inherit from your parents?
Complete the genetic scavenger hunt with the people in your class.
Also, list any unusual traits that your classmates have on the back of the paper.
You have fifteen (15) minutes to complete this assignment.
Be ready to share with the class. 

6. Environment
The other factor that influences child development is the environment.
Environment can also be thought of in two ways: “nature” and “nurture”.
Includes experiences children have in:
their home
School
Community
Some people refer to this as "nurture."

7. Environment (cont.)
The environment can either improve or harm a child's genetic blueprint.
Ex: malnourished children who live in developing countries may not reach their IQ potential because of the impact of their environment ( not enough nutrition) on their brain development.
Some people refer to this as "nature."

8. The Great Debate:
Psychologists have been debating this idea for years:
“Nature vs. Nurture”
Identical Strangers
(otherwise known as: Does heredity or environment play a bigger role in a child’s development?)

9. Domains of Development
Development is described in three domains, but…
Growth in one domain influences the other domains.

10. Domains of Development
Physical Domain:
body size
body proportions
Appearance
brain development
motor development, perception capacities, physical health.

11. Domains of Development
Cognitive/Intelligence Domain:
thought processes and intellectual abilities including:
Attention
Memory
problem solving
Imagination
Creativity
academic and everyday knowledge
Metacognition
language.

12. Domains of Development
Social/Emotional Domain:
self-knowledge (self-esteem, metacognition, sexual identity, ethnic identity)
moral reasoning
understanding and expression of emotions
self-regulation
Temperament
understanding others
interpersonal skills
friendships

13. Discussion Question:
Work with a partner and look at the three development domain lists.
Beside each one, write whether or not you feel it would be affected by heredity or environment.
Hint: You can write an “H” or an “E” beside each one.
We will discuss our answers as a group after five (5) minutes.