From birth, children look to their parents first to help
them interpret the world around them. It should be no surprise then that
how parents interact with their children shapes their children’s
emotional, cognitive and social skills. These first relationships serve
as a reference point for all future relationships, and also influence
problem-solving abilities, peer relationships and basic coping skills.
We know that positive parenting can help a child
tremendously by encouraging healthy brain development and emotional
well-being. Researchers have found that parenting behavior explains 40
percent of the income-related gaps for children at age four, and
maternal sensitivity explains one-third of the math and language skills
gaps at the beginning of kindergarten. Nurturing from a parent in early
life notably contributes to actual physical differences in the
development of the brain that carry all the way through childhood and
adulthood.
A young child who feels secure within her home
environment will more readily explore language, learn how to express
emotions safely and be more prepared to learn so that she can grow into a
secure, high-achieving individual. On the other hand, if a child is
exposed to a stressful home environment in which parents or caregivers
are not nurturing and not responsive to her needs, that child will lack
the basic emotional and physical support needed to foster her complete
development.
Different parenting styles affect how children develop
these skills, but all types of families can still practice engaged
parenting and create stable, supportive home environments. Parents who
talk often to their children, listen to their attempts at communication
and who respond in a supportive way will best prepare their children for
a successful future.
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