Parents' Responsibility for Positive Development of Children: A Psychological Analysis (Median method)

Who are Children?

By prabath HeenatigalaPublished about a year ago • 3 min read

Who are Children?

From a psychological perspective, children are individuals undergoing rapid and complex developmental changes. According to developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, children pass through distinct cognitive stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each stage represents different abilities and ways of thinking.

A toddler in the sensorimotor stage learns through interacting with their environment, such as touching and manipulating objects. As they grow, their cognitive abilities evolve, enabling more complex thinking and problem-solving.

Why Should They Develop Positively?

Positive development is crucial for psychological well-being. According to Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, successfully navigating each stage leads to a healthy personality and acquisition of basic virtues.

A child who receives consistent support and encouragement during the "initiative vs. guilt" stage will likely develop a sense of purpose and confidence, whereas failure to do so can result in feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

How to Make Goals for Positive Development

Identify Core Values

Psychologically, values shape a child's identity and moral compass. According to Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, children progress from basic understanding of right and wrong to more abstract principles of justice and ethics.

Teaching empathy by modeling and discussing compassionate behavior helps children develop a deeper understanding of others' feelings, promoting moral reasoning and ethical behavior.

Set Measurable Objectives

Setting measurable objectives aligns with Vygotsky’s concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which emphasizes the importance of providing tasks that are challenging yet achievable with guidance.

A child aiming to improve math grades can be given progressively harder problems that stretch their capabilities, with parental support to navigate difficulties, fostering a sense of competence and achievement.

Create a Roadmap

A roadmap provides structure, which is crucial for developing executive function skills such as planning, organization, and time management. According to Barkley’s model of executive functioning, these skills are essential for self-regulation and goal attainment.

Breaking down a goal like "improving grades" into daily study sessions, weekly reviews, and periodic assessments helps children develop the ability to manage their time and efforts effectively.

Provide a Supportive Environment

Attachment theory, proposed by John Bowlby, highlights the importance of a secure attachment for healthy psychological development. A supportive environment fosters secure attachment, leading to better emotional regulation and resilience.

A child who feels secure in their relationship with parents is more likely to explore their environment and engage in learning, knowing they have a safe base to return to.

Encourage Learning

Encouraging learning aligns with Carol Dweck’s concept of a growth mindset, which posits that believing abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance is crucial for motivation and success.

Praising effort rather than innate ability ("You worked really hard on that problem!" instead of "You’re so smart!") helps children understand that learning is a process and fosters a love for learning.

Be a Role Model

Social learning theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, suggests that children learn behaviors by observing and imitating others. Parents serve as primary role models, influencing their children’s attitudes and behaviors.

Parents who demonstrate positive behaviors like kindness, patience, and persistence provide a template for children to emulate, reinforcing these traits in their own lives.

How to Motivate Children

Positive Reinforcement

B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory explains that behaviors followed by positive reinforcement are more likely to be repeated. Positive reinforcement can include praise, rewards, or other incentives.

A child who receives praise and a small reward for completing homework is more likely to develop a habit of doing homework consistently, as the behavior is reinforced by positive outcomes.

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prabath Heenatigala

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ReadShakurrabout a year ago
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