Introduction
Socialization is one of the most important learning experiences people undergo in their early years. Starting with family, it continues well into adolescence and adulthood. However, the success of people in later life’s ability to build connections is mostly determined by the smoothness of socialization that transpires during formative years. Ascertaining the most important factors influencing socialization is essential in understanding how education, family, and other environments influence children.
Socialization Factors
Early childhood is important because it is the first time people encounter the need to develop relationships. During this period, the framework of a child’s future character and identity is formed (Nigg et al., 2020). Family provides the first instance for children’s socialization, with the most evident example being parents teaching their offspring to greet other people.
However, as children encounter more people, their level of socialization becomes more complex (Lanz et al., 2020). The next stage is usually done by schools and formal education. For instance, when children learn to raise their hands before asking questions, they are learning an important social skill of understanding classroom etiquette.
Naturally, family and school are not the only factors in socialization as other environments also provide an opportunity for them to learn communicative efficiency. For example, if a child comes from a religious family, it is inevitable that they will be exposed to church and other faith followers. By attending sacred ceremonies, children learn to respect and proper conduct, which also constitute integral aspects of socialization.
Conclusion
Altogether, it should be evident that socialization is a continuing process, involving many environments. Although almost every child has a similar first stage of socialization – their families – the subsequent stages are more different, as the exact nature of social context differs for each individual. Nevertheless, in all cases, the early years are the most important because they determine what type of person a certain toddler will become.
References
Lanz, M., Sorgente, A., & Danes, S. M. (2020). Implicit family financial socialization and emerging adults’ financial well-being: A multi-informant approach. Emerging Adulthood, 8(6), 443-452. Web.
Nigg, J. T., Sibley, M. H., Thapar, A., & Karalunas, S. L. (2020). Development of ADHD: Etiology, heterogeneity, and early life course. Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, 2, 559-583. Web.
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