Research on Children Behavior
Guidance of Children Behavior
Introduction
Every child is different by nature. Caregivers and parents who understand the difference among children may raise them better than those who do not understand the difference among them. Expectations of children behavior vary from family to family and culture. In some cultures, children are exposed to higher values than other cultures, which significantly influences their behavior. Often, it becomes necessary to take control of how a child must respond to certain situations. Thus, behavior guidance is a kind of recreational and educational program to communicate and interact with the children in challenging situations.
In the following research paper, we will discuss contemporary theories relate to the guidance of children’s behavior in the early childhood setting. This report aims to study the possible strategies to address inappropriate behavior among children. Further in this research paper, the impact of factors underpinning children’s behavior will be discussed. The following research paper is designed in a way that it studies the factors leading to inappropriate behavior in children and to compare and characterize children’s behavior to develop the strategies to strengthen their sense of wellbeing.
Discussion
The concept of “behavior guidance” is often used to reflect the attempt on the most effective and positive ways to train children upon learning skills to manage their behavior (Victoria State Government, 2017). The behavioral guidance to children is a systematic process where punishments and unreasonable discipline needs to be avoided as the child may get physically and emotionally harmed.
Promoting a sense of security and belonging in children
From the time of birth, children are exposed to primary socialization which begins from learning behavior and attitude portrayed by immediate family. Thus, it makes them learn to manage their feelings and behavior. Primary socialization plays a crucial role in influencing personality development in children. Therefore, respectful, positive and light daily interactions with the children can help them to become considerate and harmonious beings (Rothenberg et al, 2017). The figure below represents how adults support children and provide a solid base for children to build their behavior on it.
Figure 1: Circle of Security (National Quality Standard, 2018)
By the school age, children often learn to become flexible, and better in controlling their actions and emotions. As they learn to self-regulate them, their relations with other children gets stronger, they become more attentive and learn new activities on regular basis.
Children’s Development Principles
A child’s behavior is developed by their level of development, age, environment and the family they raised in. Caregivers and parents need to understand that the child experience and learn by making mistakes and it is completely normal for them to make mistakes and learn better through them (Yogman et al, 2018). Therefore, the parents and caregivers must support the children to develop by gaining confidence, mental skills and competencies. In contrast to passive parenting, the parents/caregiver who understands and appreciates principles of child development, cultural influence and family norms will provide better support to children and their practices will be based on realistic expectations (Esteban, 2017). Another factor influencing the children behavior is a physical and social environment they live in. Space, things, time and people are the crucial factors that determine and shapes the children behavior from time to time. Caregivers and parents need to offer space to the children to play, learn and relax in an easy environment (Yogman et al, 2018). By doing so, caregiver and parents provide children to take responsibility and roles as individuals and act accordingly. Children must be given sufficient time and things to develop accordingly and appropriately focused behavior (British Columbia, 2016).
Theories on Children’s Learning and Well-Being
There is a range of theories that emphasize on children learning behavior and well-being. Commonly, the sociologists study the behavior development on three types of theories which are “theories for the description”, “theories for an explanation” and “theories for intervention” (Leijten et al., 2016). Among these theories, intervention theories have paved its way of understanding the behavior learning and well-being among children. Intervention theories explicitly focus on identifying the manipulative factors which can be used as an opportunity to influence the behavior development in children (Ettekal and Mahoney, 2017).
Urie Bronfenbrenner’s “Ecological Theory of Development”
Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ‘Ecological Theory of Development’ is one of the often-used intervention theories to study the early childhood intervention of a child. According to Bronfenbrenner (1977), the ecology of childhood development is a scientific study of progressive human organism throughout the life span, while living in the immediate social settings. Moreover, Bronfenbrenner (1979) emphasized on the parenting capacity of children behavior development. Bronfenbrenner believed that parents and caregivers can effectively perform their part in child-rearing roles within the family. The availability of parent’s support is the core function to enhance normal and socially accepted behavior (Shelton, 2018).
Figure 2: Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (Vélez-Agosto et al., 2017)
The above figure 2, (Vélez-Agosto et al., 2017) represented the “Ecological Systems Theory” formulated by Bronfenbrenner to establish the explanation interaction of inherent qualities of a child and his environment influence his behavior. Bronfenbrenner stressed that significance of studying child’s development interacting with multiple environments such as macrosystem, ecosystem, mesosystem, and microsystem. Typically, studies find children enmeshed in different ecosystems, amongst which microsystem is the immediate environment, where his/her primary socialization begins and macrosystem is where the children are exposed to secondary socialization (Vélez-Agosto et al., 2017). Throughout the life span, children are found to develop their behavior on the different ecosystem and learn about the norms that are accepted in a particular stage. However, a neglection from the parents and caregiver can result in socially deviant behavior in children.
Attachment Theory
Another childhood development theory that has the most influence on a child’s behavior is attachment theory. John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth introduced attachment theory highlighting the influence of the mother on the child’s behavior development (Keller, 2016). Attachment theory is a lifelong process that is believed to be developed in phases that begin before birth. As the child grows, he/she adopts the behavior and personality traits of the parents and caregiver. However, play and communication play a crucial part in children development. These are the reinforcers that enable a child to showcase different emotional expressions like joy, anger, happiness and sadness (Slentz, 2017).
Prevention Model
Prevention model concerns young children’s well-being and health. With the increasing concerns on children’s well-being, health practitioners have shifted their focus on terms of preventions (Davis et al., 2015). This model emphasizes on layers of support that aims to decrease the behavioral disorder and risk factors. According to Davis et al (2015), in case of young children, nurturing environment is crucial in the prevention of behavioral problems, therefore, in early childhood, the role of parents and caregiver supports the behavioral development.
The Impact of Factors Underpinning Children’s Behavior
According to Hertzman et al (2010), in every society, the differences in the socioeconomic status results into the inequalities in child development. Differences in raising the children are based on the differences in economic and social circumstances. It is clear that the health and well-being of children follow the social gradient. Social gradients refer to progress in health and wellbeing that is directly associated with the socioeconomic position. The conditions in which a child is born governs their exposure to the environment that can possibly be promoted or demote health development. Moore and McDonald (2013) highlighted that the health, well-being and behavioral developments in children can be compromised by the number of social determinants like poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, family violence and parents neglection. However, in Australia, inequalities in the social determinant of health have led to prevalence in children development.
Social determinants of health inequality factors are the common factors determining the children behavior in early childhood. Social and economic deprivation massively impact early childhood behavior and well-being (Moore et al., 2015). For instance, an underprivileged family cannot provide a nurturing and supporting environment and lifestyle to the children than those privileged families who can afford a healthy lifestyle. The difference in accessibility on supportive resources and healthy environment draws a line between the children raised under the poverty line and the children who were provided with a healthy lifestyle and living condition, quality education and parental support. Furthermore, the social and economic inequalities during early childhood play a massive role in shaping their later lives. The three main approaches to determine the life-long effects of early childhood experiences impacting the later life are ‘biological embedding’, ‘cumulative effect of adverse experiences’ and ‘escalation of risks over time’.
As per VicHealth (2013), the ‘layers of influence’ are used to determine the impacts of inequalities. There are three “layers of influence” that leads to systematic differential health and well-being: socioeconomic, cultural and political context, individual health and standards of living. While working on balancing out these “layers of influence”, the inequalities in children’s health and wellbeing can be controlled.
Strategies to Strengthen Their Sense of Wellbeing
The “Council of Australian Government” has introduced a framework that characterized that factors leading to children’s well-being (ACECQA, 2018). Figure 3 shows the framework comprising of elements of early childhood learning. The figure highlighted the three main elements that help children in healthy development throughout the lifespan. Belonging, being and becoming are the elements required to raise a healthy and mentally strong child. Thus, the parents and caregivers must strategize the way in order to strengthen the child’s sense of wellbeing.
Figure 3: Elements of The Early Years Learning Framework (ACECQA, 2018)
Sense of Belonging
A sense of belonging refers to understanding where and with who we belong. It is an integral part of human existence (Leggett and Ford, 2016). From the time of childbirth, he/she is associated with the immediate family, culture and the environment. At this point, the children’s earliest development takes place.
Sense of Being
When a child develops a sense of being, they start to know about their closest environment and themselves. A sense of helping children in building relationships with society, engaging with the societal norms and complexities (Leggett and Ford, 2016).
Sense of Becoming
The child’s identity, self-knowledge, skills and capacity change during childhood. These are shaped by experiences and occasions differently. The sense of becoming significantly reflects these changes among young children where they learn and grow (Leggett and Ford, 2016).
By complying to the framework, parents, and caregivers can facilitate their children’s learning and wellbeing. The compliance to the framework can enable the parents on assisting in planning, implementing and evaluating the quality experience of their children’s early childhood settings. From this framework, it is emboldening that improved communication and interaction with the children can significantly effective in strengthening their sense of well-being.
Conclusion
Children’s wellbeing and health is the responsibility of a country. Children learn from their surroundings and the environment they live in. Therefore, during their primary socialization, children should be cared for and loved in a way that helps them to reach their fullest potential. In this research paper, contemporary theories relate to the guidance of children’s behavior in the early childhood setting is studied. This research paper also studied the possible strategies to address inappropriate behavior among children. Further in this research paper, the impact of factors underpinning children’s behavior was discussed that revealed the inequalities in social determinants of health as the major factor strongly influencing the children behavior. The research paper characterized children’s behavior to develop strategies to strengthen their sense of wellbeing. While studying the factors underpinning children health and behavior, it is considerate that Australia must work towards reducing the chances of social equalities like child poverty.
References
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