Resources For Parents: How Parents Play a Role in Child Development?

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Children’s safety and well-being are ensured by their parents and caregivers. There are resources for parents which are provided to the parents so that their children can be successful adults and pass on basic cultural values. Children need to feel loved, accepted, appreciated, encouraged, and guided by their parents and caregivers. As children grow and mature, they provide the best environment for their protection and nurturing.

During Infancy

Babies who can meet their needs quickly and with warmth will be able to achieve the essential developmental task of attachment. For a healthy parent-child relationship to develop, this bond of affection must be maintained. It also needs to extend the relationships between siblings and their caregivers. Infants who can connect with their caregivers and parents successfully will be more open to exploring the world around them and feel safe. This is the foundation for cognitive, social, and emotional development.

During Adolescence

Parents and caregivers have a new set of challenges as their children enter adolescence. Children are constantly changing in both their physical and cognitive abilities. Parents and caregivers need to prepare for changes in the parent-child relationship. Teens will start to distance themselves from their families and be more focused on the outside world. Adolescence is a time when teens are naturally seeking independence and greater autonomy. Parents and caregivers need to find the right balance between maintaining a familial bond and allowing teenagers to grow in autonomy. Teenagers who feel connected with their families but not restricted by them tend to thrive. Research shows that teens who feel connected to their families and are supported by them, as well as their caregivers, have higher levels of social competence, use fewer drugs and suffer from anxiety and depression.

While Coping with Adversity

Support from parents, caregivers, and family members is vital in helping youth and children cope with adversity. This is especially true if they are confronted with stigma or prejudice due to factors like race gender, disability, weight, or socioeconomic status.

Research has shown that children of color are more likely to be protected if their caregivers and parents educate them about racism, and prejudice and pass on positive cultural beliefs and values about their cultural heritage and racial origin. Racial socialization is a process that boosts self-esteem, and academic achievement and decreases depression among ethnic minority youth.

Similar to previous studies, transgender, gay, bisexual, and lesbian youth who are accepted by their family and caregivers are more likely than others to experience healthy development as adolescents, such as active participation with peers, self-determination, and looking ahead to the future.

Conclusion and Further Resources for Parents on Child Development  

Parenting and child development are interconnected. Both the proverbs “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” or “The branch grows as the trunk develops” can be used to explain how parenting techniques affect child development and growth.

Each stage of development is interconnected and cannot be separated into separate categories. Let’s focus on the role of parents in making sure that their child’s growth years are enjoyable. The role of parents is vital and constantly changing. It influences a child’s thinking, reactions, reasoning, and decisions in these domains. For more resources for parents on child development, make sure to take the help of OECI. At OECI, you can explore helpful resources that help you with your parenting.