Parents, peers, and school teachers can be considered the greatest influencers on a child’s development. Parents help their children develop unique personalities and fight for their rights. Moreover, when children grow up and start attending primary school, they spend more time with peers and teachers. Consequently, while children of the same age learn to communicate and make friends, teachers guide them to develop critical thinking. From my personal experience, my parents have always greatly influenced my development as they were always responsive and supportive when I was interested in different areas. Additionally, communication with classmates helped me find real friends who share the same ideas and interests.
It has always been interesting for psychologists to understand the real influence of different individuals on a child’s development using credible evidence. According to Gesell (2021), there are three main infant growth concepts: language, parenting styles, and social development. The process of child growth is different in diverse parts of the world, and depending on the cultural values and language, children can create their specific beliefs and way of living. Moreover, four main parenting styles make the development of children different in several families. Permissive parents allow their children to do everything they want, and authoritative fathers and mothers set clear rules for their children but help them make decisions. Neglectful parents do not support their child’s emotional stability, causing problems in their development. Authoritarian family leaders set strict rules and control their children every time. My parents have followed the authoritative style as they have always been helpful, but I had to follow specific rules like being at home before 9 am. As a child psychologist, I would recommend parents avoid strict regulations that do not allow their child to express their individual thoughts. In this case, children might have healthy growth by being surrounded by support from parents, peers, and teachers.
This book explains all key concepts related to child development. It provides information regarding parenting styles and supports it with evidence. Moreover, the source is taken from a reliable platform called Google Scholar. The source was posted in 2021, and the information stays relevant these days. Additionally, writers have university degrees related to this specific area.
Reference
Gesell, A. (2021). Child development. Prabhat Books.