The influence of friends, Parents and Caregivers on a Child’s development

From the time they are born, children open themselves up to influences from the outside world. And while relationships cultivated with staff, at a day care center in Silver Spring MD, have a huge impact on a young child, other interactions may also affect the child. These include parents, friends in child care settings, and other relations and caregivers.

Parents and Caregivers

Often, parents are a child’s primary caregivers. However, the child may soon interact with grandparents, aunts and uncles, staff at day care centers in Gaithersburg MD, and home-based caregivers.  These early interactions also influence a child’s outlook on life. Children absorb cultural values, moral guidelines, health and safety tips, and other important mental, physical, and moral traits that shape their lives.

Parents and caregivers help children grow through encouragement, appreciation, acceptance, unconditional love, and the wisdom of guidance. While in the care of non-schooling environments, parents and family can influence a child’s view on tradition, culture, customs, and heritage. Adult interactions, with teachers and caregivers at daycare in Bethesda MD, influence young minds through knowledge and activities that build character and highlight important social and societal skills.

Friends

Children benefit from friendships in manners similar (if not identical) to the ones adults enjoy. Circles of friends, even at a tender age, help the child deal with stress. A network of friends also provides children with a sense of belonging. Both these factors, stress relief and a sense of belonging, are especially important when kids enter new and unfamiliar environments, like preschool or other day care settings.

Friends in new places, with whom the child gets along with, also helps children better adjust to changes in those environments – new care providers at a day care center in Silver Spring MD, new toys, and new rules.  Being in the company of friends influences and enhances the overall quality of a child’s life.

Building Relationships That Influence

Children will cultivate relationships at various levels as they grow up. These may include peer age/group friendships, in-school or homeschooling relationships, or those formulated within families or anywhere outside of an educational setting. It’s important to create conditions that lead to positive influences on young children. Here are three tips to ensure positive outcomes from any such interactions:

  • Encourage Friendships: The best way to ensure your child cultivates friends who are likely to have positive influences on them, is to teach them to be friendly. Children typically respond in kind – friendliness for friendliness. It’s important to encourage them to initiate, or respond positively to, friendly gestures from other kids they meet at day care centers in Gaithersburg MD, or in other social settings.

  • Be Role Models: How adults interact with others, greatly influences how children behave. When interacting with others – young, old, friend, stranger – in the presence of children, it’s important to demonstrate how good relationships work. A friendly greeting. Saying “Thank you”. These actions influence a child’s model of their own behavioral responses.
  • Understand Your Child’s Relationships: Who are your child’s friends? What are their caregivers like at the daycare in Bethesda MD? Have you met the parents of your child’s friends? These forms of diligence will ensure that the child only cultivates relationships with positive influences.

More From Author

How to Prepare for Professional Capet Cleaning in Your home

Crafting Your Unique Photography Style: A Comprehensive Guide