ECD occurs between age two to six because children begin showing signs of social, physical and emotional development during this stage (Attanasio et al., 2022). Parents play significant roles during ECD, but modern education and job demands has created an environment of shared responsibility between parents, teachers, and peers in the care and oversight of children during ECD. Several external factors can influence the development of a child. Such issues necessitate optimal attention from the children’s guardians, teachers, and parents.
Cognitive and language development relies on socialization. Culture is a determinant of some aspects of a child’s cognitive growth, such as motor development (Beyer & Lazzara, 2020). For example, some Asiatic cultures discredit left hand orientation due to an association with bad omen. Sleep and nutrition are integral to a child’s cognitive growth. Jeong et al. (2022) argue that interaction with technology, such as smart phones and television can affect cognitive growth. Caregivers should therefore regulate screen time to ensure nutrition and sleep
Sleep is a vital factor affecting a child’s cognitive and language development. Children require comfort during sleep. A child should sleep in a crib or bassinet that occurs near the caregiver’s bed. The surface should be firm, such as a crib mattress, and they should sleep on their back rather than side or stomach. The ECD stage requires a child to sleep for over 12 hours (Jeong et al., 2022). Insufficient sleep impairs cognitive functions like learning, memory, and decision-making. Similarly, increased irritability, increased sensitivity to negative stimuli, and poor coping mechanisms are some emotional challenges that sleep deprived children experience. Enough sleep has positive contributions to a child’s cognitive development.
Nutrition such as choline, vitamin B6, and folate facilitate the synthesis of neurotransmitters to moderate mood and memory. An imbalanced nutrition can give the child mood swings. Adequate nutrition conduces to normal brain development (Bayer & Lazzara, 2020). Notably, zinc deficiency causes poor memory, low cognitive performance and minimal attention spans. Nutrition supports brain development by generating nutrients for energy generation to allow a continuous functioning of the brain. The healthy growth of a child relies on the development of a higher mental capacity and motor capabilities through adequate sleep and sufficient nutrition.
References
Attanasio, O., Cattan, S., & Meghir, C. (2022). Early Childhood Development, Human Capital, and Poverty. Annual Review of Economics, 14, 853-892. Web.
Beyer, A., & Lazzara, J. (2020). Psychology Through the Lifespan. Maricopa.edu; Pressbooks. Web.
Jeong, J., Bliznashka, L., Sullivan, E., Hentschel, E., Jeon, Y., Strong, K. L., & Daelmans, B. (2022). Measurement tools and indicators for assessing nurturing care for early childhood development: A scoping review. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(4), e0000373. Web.