Nature and Nurture in Early Child Development - Essay Example

My Virtual Child Reflection My virtual child development program is an interactive simulation that gave me the opportunity to be a parent by raising my own child. With the help of the decisions that I made about specific scenarios, I successfully raised my child from birth until he was a grown up. There are several things and decisions the child made and I responded in the best way possible. The decisions helped raise the child in the best way possible. The following is the detailed reflection of my experience as a parent. I have discussed several issues under the three sub-headings. Children: Growth and Development Genes and the environment account for the development of a human being. The two aspects are interrelated, and they affect both behavioral and physical maturation. The parent’s genes determine the limit of the child’s physical characteristics such as hair color and skin color, as well as behavioral traits (Keating 2011). Bryan was no different, and his development was by large attributed to genetic factors. At the age of two, Bryan had some characteristics that were typical of me. Before enrolling him in a pre-school program, an early childhood specialist evaluated some of his cognitive and developmental skills. Bryan was hesitant in joining the group of children, but later integrated into the group very well. He would handle challenging tasks with ease, and his problem-solving skills were exemplary. He also gave attention to the tasks assigned by the instructor. These skills were typical to me as a parent. As stated in the personality quiz, I was not comfortable with working in groups of unfamiliar people but would enjoy with them later. I also had a strong focus on things I did and thought of them before execution. The behaviors are alike and can only be attributed to genetic factors. His first-grade report card also shows that Bryan demonstrates strength in mathematical problem solving, spatial understanding, and speaking. I had similar abilities at the age of 16. Environmental factors also affected Bryan’s development. At the age of 16, Bryan developed a close teen relationship with his peers. Just like his peers, he gets a girlfriend, and they experience some regular breakups. His peers also made him develop an interest in sports, and he engaged in baseball. He also enjoys hiking with friends. At the age of 18, Bryan concentrates on what he wears and his looks. His friends wear certain shoes and clothes, and Bryan wants the same style. Bryan had both emotional and behavioral problems. At 14 years, Bryan began to argue when told what to do and not to do. The arguing is a sign of emotional problems because he never used to argue about curfews, chores, music choices, and clothing choices when young. He also at one time came home furious after fighting with a friend. He disregards instructions given to him and instead gives preference to what he wants. During summer, he declined my requests to spend time as a family, and instead decided to spend time with friends. All these problems can be attributed to expected teen changes and a part of the sense of independence. His peers always played a role on his behavioral and emotional problems. In an effort to solve the problems, I would always request him to explain the problems and in turn give possible solutions and advice. When he would resist my requests and engage in arguments, I would allow him to have it his way but later talk to him. When he, for example, insists on shaving because his friends are doing it, I bought him an electric shaver but told him to wait and avoid doing it for the sake of his friends. Family: Parental Influences I possess the authoritative parenting style. Authoritative parents have expectations on their children’s behavior but provide important structure to the family. They show love, respect, and a sense of understanding to their children (Shaffer, 2009). I have shown all these attributes to Bryan and his sister Talia. Authoritative parents also focus and consider the opinions of their children. Brian, for example, starts dating at the age of 16. It is very early to start dating at that age because the two can start engaging in pre-marital sex. As a parent, this issue disturbed me for some time, and I decided to talk to him. I allowed him to continue with the relationship but expected him not to go out with her. My parenting style draws from several societal and cultural factors, as well as personal life experiences. My style heavily borrows from how my parents brought me up. My parents were always there for me and gave their attention to everything I did. They were not harsh but had restrictions on what I did and what I had to avoid. My parents’ socioeconomic status also affected our standard of living and could not afford a flashy lifestyle. In the same way, our status has to determine Bryan’s lifestyle. My religion also gives me powers to watch over my children but not to mistreat them. Bryan, therefore, has to abide by my rules, but I also have to be considerate. My parenting mattered in the growth of my child, Bryan. At the age of 10, he developed a passion for his studies and was always enthusiastic about completing his homework. Bryan read excessively which could have negatively affected other aspects of his growth. I, therefore, had to recommend an exercise that would relax his mind such as playing outside. When he was watching videos where men were mistreating women, I made it known to him that what the men were doing was wrong. The advice helped shape his attitudes towards both genders. Society: Environmental Influences Various microsystem factors have affected Bryan’s development. His peers and school have been at the center of his development. The school has taught Bryan how to write and read. His fifth-grade report card showed he had excellent spelling, reading and writing skills. It has also exposed him to other activities such as playing baseball and soccer. Friends have also helped him grow by making him aware of the latest fashion and trends. His uncle developed his love for baseball and always joined him to play the exciting game. The videos he watched at home are part of mass media that helped him learn and appreciate gender differences. He also at one time used an internet application to connect with his friends. He learned that face-to-face communication is better than using mass media because it minimizes the risks of harassment. Such interaction with peers contributed to his social development by helping him understand the most appropriate strategies for communication. His interaction with peers saw his confidence grow, and he would assume group leadership. When he fought with a friend, he overcame the problem, and other such experiences taught him how to handle his emotions. Cooperating with his peers at school also helped him finish high school and attain good grades. Finally, the experience of being a virtual parent is amazing. I learned a lot from it and gave me a picture of what to expect from my children. It equips me with the knowledge of how I can handle any challenges that arise positively. The program also helped me enhance my parenting and teaching skills to be more effective. It enhanced my knowledge of childhood and adolescent development. In addition, I appreciated using the virtual child program because I saw and learned the consequences of my choices. The overviews given at the end of each year gave me ideas of how the choices I made affected the development of my child. Besides, the program made me review my life and think of things that need adjustments in my life. The program is not only beneficial for parents only, but also for teachers because it helps them understand students better. References Keating, D. (2011). Nature and nurture in early child development. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Shaffer, D. R. (2009). Social and personality development. Australia: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Read More