Definition of emotional development
Emotional development is the emergence of a child's experience, expression, understanding, and regulation of emotions from birth through late adolescence. It also comprises how growth and changes in these processes concerning emotions occur. Emotional development does not occur in isolation; neural, cognitive, and behavioral development interact with emotional development and social and cultural influences, and context also play a role.
Factors That Affect The Emotional Development In Children:
First, it is important for you to remember that the development of each child is unique and complex. There might be slight or huge differences in the social and emotional development of your child, as it is associated with a number of factors. The most common factors are:
1. Inborn temperament
Children are born with their natural style of interacting with or reacting to people, places, and things—their temperament
From the time a baby is born, certain behavioral patterns can be observed that will continue to be part of that child's behavioral style throughout her life. These patterns are influenced, but not completely changed, by the responses of parents and other family members, caregivers, and friends.
Your child's inborn behavioral style will have a big effect on how she learns and interacts with her environment and with you. Her style, which is also is called her temperamental style or temperament may determine how easy or difficult she is to care for at different stages of her life. If you recognize some of your own temperamental qualities in your child, it may be easier for you to understand her behavior. However, if your child's temperamental style is one that clashes with yours, you may find it perplexing and difficult to understand why she acts the way she does. No matter what your own temperamental style, a young child with certain temperamental qualities will seem easier or more difficult to manage at certain stages and in certain circumstances. Whatever your child's temperamental style, understanding it will help you to understand your child and get along with her much better.
2. Model behavior by adults
One of the most powerful skills children possess is their ability to observe. This ability has powerful implications for each of us as parents. All research studies that I have read indicate that children want to model the behaviors of their parents. This places a major responsibility on a parent. When a child is born, we need to be constantly reminded that he or she models their behavior after the male and female role models in their life.
Recognizing the magnitude of this parental responsibility, and with 2011 signifying a new year with a new beginning, I thought it might be appropriate to ask a few questions about how we, as adults, serve as role models for our children. So, let me begin by asking:
1. When you provide your child a response to a question or a
statement he or she makes, do you respond in a positive or negative tone of voice? Children pick up on verbal cues.
If they see positive responses to another person, they want to emulate it. If they see a negative response, they will do the same. Where do you stand in how you respond to your child?
2. When you talk about another person, is it in a negative or
positive manner? If a parent gossips about a person, then it is highly likely that the child will demonstrate that same behavior. If a child hears a parent speak positively about a person, he or she is more likely to develop a positive attitude about people. Are your comments about other adults more about their positive attributes or their negative ones?
3. When you have a disagreement with another person, do you
attack the other person or do you discuss how you are working to resolve your differences? Your response, through the eyes of and ears of a child, speaks loudly to them about how to resolve conflicts. How do you go about resolving conflicts?
3. Cultural influences
The United States is a blending of many cultures that feature many stable and different subcultures. Where a child grows up and who her parents are will influence the “cultural wisdom,” or emphasis of certain values and skills, that are passed to her. In early childhood, these cultural differences become increasingly significant.
Moral Differences
One of the main traits cultural psychologists observe when they analyze cultures are the morals that a certain culture emphasizes. Because morals differ throughout the world, individuals stress certain ideas, goals and skills. These morals tend to come from the family more than the schoolyard and classroom. Nancy Gonzales and Kenneth Dodge, researchers of adolescents and authors of “Family and Peer Influences on Adolescent Behavior and Risk-Taking,” state that family culture is the driving force behind the development of children’s moral viewpoints. This can explain the differences between children of different cultures on moral issues. For example, Japanese children, who come from a culture that teaches modesty, might seem to be the polar opposites of Hispanic children, who come from a culture that reveres self-esteem.
Language
Immigrants are likely to be the most affected by cultural differences in the United States, if only for the reason of language. Children who are exposed to two languages learn them differently, especially if exposed to one language before the other, according to the book "Language Development." This not only affects how parents should help their children in learning a language, but also leads to an overall language learning delay that can last until the child is 10 years old. The outcome will be poorer academic success in language classes until that age.
Parenting Styles
Psychologists have researched the topic of parenting styles, which refers to the different methods parents use to deal with conflicts between parents and children, and have found that cultures differ on the parenting styles they use. According to Kimberly Kopko, associate professor at Cornell University and author of "Parenting Styles and Adolescents," Western parents tend to use the authoritative parenting style, which emphasizes open expression. Authoritative parents set clear limits while allowing open communication between parent and child. Kopko also notes that parents from other cultures, most notably Asian and African cultures, tend to use the authoritarian style, which emphasizes firmness. Authoritarian parents are strict in discipline and rule-setting.
Autonomy
When cultural morals and parenting styles mix, the culture of the home pushes a child into a certain habits. These habits can shape the child into anything from an independent and rebellious rascal to an overly reliant, dependent mommy’s boy. However, the results are usually somewhere in between. The cultural influences of a family tell the child how much freedom he has in his life. An example of this is in how Western children gain independence so quickly in the eyes of Asian families, and how Asian children stay reliant on their parents so long in Western eyes. According to child development expert Beth Maschinot in her book "The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development," Western morals emphasize self-expression and the standard Western parenting style emphasizes freedom of growth. This leads to parents reinforcing autonomous behaviors in daily circumstances, such as in giving their children choices throughout the day (e.g., "What color crayon would you like to use?" and "Which fish should we choose?") This leads to behavioral differences in Western children, such as children tending to be willing to leave their homes early to find work. On the contrary, Asian morals emphasize the importance of family, and the standard Asian parenting style emphasizes reliance on parental decision-making. So, it is not uncommon for Asian children to live with their parents throughout their entire childhood and even up to their 30s.
4. Opportunities presented by social interaction
"Social interaction is a two way street. Make sure you are driving on the right side." - Bryce's Law
5. Disabilities
Learning disabilities
Children who have a significant impairment in their ability to learn are described as having learning disabilities. This covers a wide range of situations, and each child is different and responds differently. Learning disabilities are often described as ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ or ‘severe’, but these are not precise terms. With support, children with learning disabilities should be able to reach their full potential.
Special educational needs
Many of the children featured on Be My Parent will have special educational needs and may need a statement of educational needs (SEN) outlining their educational needs and the support they should receive at school. Some children may have missed out on some of their education, or find it difficult to learn and concentrate. If the child’s needs cannot be met by the resources of their school, it may be in their best interests to attend a different type of school, perhaps one that provides a more specialist education.
Emotional and behavioural needs
It is common for many children needing adoption or fostering to have previously experienced lack of care, lack of supervision, including neglect, or physical, emotional or sexual abuse, as well as separation and loss from their birth family. The majority of the children waiting for new families, including babies and infants, will have specific emotional needs due to their early life experiences.
Many children, particularly those who have had more than one carer, will have emotional or behavioural issues, such as attachment difficulties. Attachment is the process of emotional bonding between babies and their main carers, which is usually the mother, in the first few years of life. Research indicates that missing out on this connection can affect a child’s social behaviour and emotional development.
6. Level of security
7. The relationship levels shared with adults
