Dear Professor B,

In the process of writing my research paper, “The Relationship between Children’s Behaviors and the Environment They Grow Up In,” I honed my skills researching on a specific topic and presenting them in a manner accessible. I learned to differentiate between sources such as primary and secondary, trust worthiness, and different strategies to find the best article for the research. I also learned how to cite evidence properly, with the MLA format. In addition, I learned about a topic that I’ve been interested in for a very long time. This essay provided me with a deeper understanding of how environment, genetics, and parental influence weave together to shape a child’s development.

My target audience for this essay extends beyond the classroom. It includes parents, educators, couples who may be planning to have kids and anyone interested in the field of child development. To make my essay relatable and engaging, I incorporated a clear and concise narrative style, integrating research findings with real-life examples. I wanted it to be informative while also maintaining an argument why the environment and parents nurture played a bigger role than genes, nature. 

One of the key insights I gained from this phase is the profound impact of environmental factors on a child’s growth. This realization deepened my appreciation of the interplay between nature and nurture, a theme that resonates throughout my essay. The examples used, such as the influence of a nurturing home or an interactive educational setting, were carefully chosen to illustrate these concepts in real-world context.

This research paper underscores Outcome 6, focusing on locating and evaluating research sources, was another key area of development. I utilized the library’s databases and online resources to gather relevant information, ensuring each source was credible, accurate, and unbiased. This thorough research process not only made my essay stronger but also helped me get better at figuring out how good and relevant different sources are.

The Relationship between Children’s Behaviors and the Environment they Grow up In

“Children are like wet clay which can be molded in any shape” suggests journalist and sociologist Kumar Sawan (2-3). When a child is first born, they have no knowledge of this world so their actions and behaviors are entirely unknown. However, many studies have shown that the environment a child grows up in greatly impacts their behavior or how they grow up. As days go by, children pick up new habits every day from the people they hang around with and their environment. Some physical environmental surroundings include “housing, facilities for education, health care, employment, and open space for recreation as they spend the majority of their time and start to interact” (Sawan 11-13). While genetics set the initial framework for a child’s development, it’s the environment and the nurturing role of parents that play a more significant role in shaping a child’s mental strength, physical actions, and emotional coping skills, emphasizing the importance of parental guidance and environmental factors over inherent genetic traits.

For a very long time, it was believed that parents played the most important role in their child’s development. The second most important is their heredity and genetics received from their parents. However, a study was done by David Reiss MD, The George Washington University psychiatrist, who had studied adolescent development for over 12 years and the results produced from his studies were surprising to himself and many other psychiatrists in the same field. “Once, parents were given all the credit–and all the blame–for how their children turned out”(Paul 4). While it is true that parents have an impact on their child’s development, it is very little compared to their heredity and the environment they grow up in. Parents act as a role model for their children, they teach them how to talk, walk, manners, and how to behave. The behavior of a child “Attitudes most frequently considered involve the degree of warmth and acceptance or coldness and rejection that exists in the parent-child relationship”(Grusec and Danyliuk 11-12). The way that the parents behave, talk, and show manners, their children will rapidly learn from them and pick up their etiquette. The environment their parents laid out for them will affect how they will form habits, physical behaviors, and gain mental strength which ultimately leads to how they manage their feelings. For example, if a child grows up in a strict household, where their parents are always arguing, threats to hit them, don’t care about their feelings, and are almost always left alone. That child will automatically want to stay away from their parents, be secretive, and hide their feelings. This also affects how they act with their peers in school and outside of the house. The child will most likely be quiet and independent or be a “class clown” who will do funny things to get attention since they don’t get that at home. 

However, parents aren’t the only ones to be blamed for the development of a child since their genes also play a part in how they behave. 

Brain science research has been going on for a very long time and they keep discovering new things about how the brain functions and how it affects our behaviors. According to J. Ronald Lally, a pioneer in the field of infant/toddler development, and Peter Mangione, a Senior Director for Early Childhood Strategic Initiatives, one of the greatest findings of brain science research is that “early brain development is directly influenced by babies’ day-to-day interactions with their caregivers”(Lally and Mangione 17). The babies are expecting to be treated and taken care of by their caregiver. When their expectations, nurturance, and protections are met their brain “experience[s] pleasure and delight”(Lally and Mangione 17). However, when this is not met they are challenged to form good relationships with people around them. This can isolate them which can result in suffering from emotional and social development. As a child if you are weak emotional and socially, it will effect your future because “emotional base is the foundation for all other learning”(Lally and Mangione 17). Kids are sensitive and a small mistake like not being able to provide for their needs can cause such a big issue on their development thus ruining or making their life harder later on. Early relationships that a newborn has, whether at home or in an early learning setting, shape how their brain functions later on. 

The way that children act in some situations is also directly influenced by their environment and parents. In some situations children will immediately start crying, some they will analyze and watch, and some when they just isolate themselves. All of this has to do with how the child was raised during the first three years of their lives. If their parents gave them support in every aspect and built a good relationship, the child would emotionally be attached to their parents and rely on them for most things. I don’t mean rely on them for “everything” but they will be more open to sharing things with their parents because of the trust and bond they built. For example, “when a baby fusses or cries, consistent adult responses that provide comfort help the child anticipate similar responses in the future. As the expectations are strengthened by similar experiences being repeated, babies’ brains construct perceptions of the social and emotional world in which they live”(Lally and Mangione 18). Meaning the baby will see a positive side of the world which naturally they will also be positive and optimistic. They are more likely to provide support and help to other people such as friends and teachers as they go further in life. However, it’s the opposite when they aren’t given a strong foundation the first 3 years and they will “come to expect the behaviors and messages of others to be negative”(Lally and Mangione 18). Since they were taught and seen the negative side of the world as a kid, they will also start to perceive others in a negative way.

After many years of studies on child development, David Reiss MD and his colleagues were shocked by the result they found. “Now we’ve done the research ourselves, so…” He sighs. “We’re not ever going to believe it, but we’re going to have to act as if we do”(qtd. in Paul 14-15). The result they found is that “genetic influences are largely responsible for how “adjusted” kids are”(qtd. in Paul 19-20). Even though parents play a role in their child’s development, genetics play an even bigger role. However, in order for these genetics to be nurtured and developed in the correct way, the environment plays the most crucial role, where children spend most of their time playing and learning. For example, if the child’s family and ancestry are known for having a certain quality such as respect and good manners, it is highly likely that such genes were also passed down to the child. A normal person would infer that when the child grows up, they will be respectful and have good manners. However, what if the child was raised by other people from another family who are not known for having such qualities?  Let’s say that this family is known for being outsiders or ignorant of society’s laws and rules. As the kid grows up, they will start to learn the habits from that family, and pick up their actions and lingos. This could result in the child not developing that heredity that was passed down from his own family. Therefore, in order for genetics to be adequately developed, a child must be in the correct environment where they can learn proper etiquette and gain the mental strength to overcome any problems.

Even though the environment plays a critical role in child development, many researchers and parents argue that “Nutrition, maybe the most important of the lot, has the most profound impact on children’s healthy growth and development”(Walnutmontessori 30). Nutrition plays the biggest role because with a healthy diet the child will be able to develop properly. At a young age, children are addicted to sweets and high-fat products and most likely won’t agree to eat vegetables and meat. This affects their brain and body by not consuming the right amount of proteins and carbs which are essential for growth. “A balanced diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, provides everything that a child’s body needs to grow properly”(Walnutmontessori 30-31). Ingesting a healthy diet not only benefits physically but mentally as well. The day before a big test or interview, you usually hear from your teachers and parents to eat a healthy breakfast. Doing so makes you physically strong but also grants mental strength and confidence to do better on tests or interviews. If a healthy breakfast plays that much of an important role in a person after puberty, imagine the benefits of a healthy diet on an adolescent or children when they are developing almost every day. In addition, “Malnutrition can cause deficiency diseases affecting their growth and development in a major way”(Walnutmontessori 31-32). Thus, parents should feed their children a mix of all kinds of vitamins, proteins, and carbohydrates. 

Although Nutrition plays a big role in children’s development, there are health risks that come along with it, particularly when it involves imbalanced eating habits. Overeating, a common issue among children, can lead to obesity, a condition fraught with long-term health complications like diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems. “Overeating can also lead to obesity and many other health problems in the long run such as diabetes and heart-related problems.”(Walnutmontessori 32-33). The psychological aspect of eating behaviors in children is significant. Children who are taught to use food as a reward or a comfort may develop unhealthy emotional associations with eating, leading to problems like binge eating or food aversion. It’s essential for parents and caregivers to encourage healthy eating habits and a positive relationship with food from an early age. The environment in which a child grows plays a supplementary role in mitigating these risks. Active play and engagement in outdoor activities are crucial for physical health, aiding in the prevention of obesity and related conditions. Also, these activities are good for mental and emotional health. A child’s surroundings, full of chances to explore and play actively, help fight the inactive lifestyle that comes with bad eating habits and also help with mental growth and focus. b.

Moreover, in that environment the child can learn to socialize, make friends, build bonds, make childhood memories which will further impact them when they grow up.  Children are given the freedom to do whatever they want such as exploring to freshen their minds which leads to better focus and they get stronger physically. 

Children spend most of their time playing around their environment and slowly learning more things about the world. Children mimic the action of the people around them, thus what they see in their everyday environment most likely influences their social behaviors. “The environment has little control over genes, proteins, and time that control the development of the brain but it does shape how children use their new mental abilities”(Kumar 5-7). The environment gets the children ready for the real world, it teaches them manners, kindness, socialization, etc. Therefore, it is crucial that the parents lay out an environment which their children can benefit the most from. For example, a loving and caring environment where everyone uses appropriate etiquette and doesn’t smoke or use any harmful substances. An environment that ensures the child’s safety and allows the child to “experience many new situations, leading to a myriad of latest feelings”(Kumar 8-9). Experiencing different feelings allows the child to better cope with their own feelings. This is crucial because as they grow up they will meet many people, some of whom they will love, and some will bully them or hurt them emotionally and they have to be ready to deal with it. Experiencing different feelings beforehand can lead to the growth of mental strength and “the way a child deals with feelings depends on the environment, he spent his time”(Kumar 9-10).

In conclusion, a child’s development is shaped by a dynamic interplay of three key factors: parental influence, environmental experiences, and genetic predispositions. Genetics provide the initial framework, setting the stage with inherent traits and potentialities. However, the role of parents is essential, as they are the primary educators in a child’s early life. They teach basic skills, instill values, and model behaviors. Beyond family and relatives, the broader environment plays a significant role. The surroundings in which a child grows – including their home, school, and community – offer diverse experiences and challenges that further sculpt their personality, behavior, and abilities. The child’s environment helps them get ready for the real world by strengthening their mind, reaching maturity, and controlling their feelings. 

Sources: 

1. Grusec, Joan E. “Parents’ Attitudes and Beliefs: Their Impact on Children’s Development.” Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development, University of Toronto, Canada, https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/parenting-skills/according-experts/parents-attitudes-and-beliefs-their-impact-childrens-development
2. Lally, J. Ronald, and Peter Mangione. “Caring Relationships: The Heart of Early Brain Development.” YC Young Children, vol. 72, no. 2, 2017, pp. 17–24. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/90004118. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023.
3. Paul, Annie Murphy. “Do Parents Really Matter?” Psychology Today, 1998, p. 46. Gale OneFile: Psychology, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A20202762/PPPC?u=nysl_me_hsct&sid=bookmark-PPPC&xid=ae111146.
4. Kumar, Sawan. “How Does Social Environment Impacts Child’s Behavior?” Times of India Blog, 14 Sept. 2020, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/sawan/how-does-social-environment-impacts-childs-behavior-26029/. 
5. Blog : Factors Affecting the Growth and Development of Children – Walnut Montessori, https://www.walnutmontessori-preschool.com/factors-affecting-the-growth-and-development-of-children#:~:text=Nutrition%2C%20maybe%20the%20most%20important,body%20needs%20to%20grow%20properly. 

Multimedia source: 

McCargar, Victoria, and MSMU Archives. Child Development Program, 1970s. MSMU Archives, 1975? JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.31693769. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023.

Unknown. Students Playing with Children. 1950c. University of Rhode Island Libraries, JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.2962571. Accessed 18 Nov. 2023.