Care Needs
Normally, caregivers are always in touch with the infants and attend to all their possible needs. The care providers, therefore, play a significant role in influencing early childhood development among young ones, especially their emotional and social aspects. Being sensitive to common care needs is crucial and can easily facilitate secure attachment (Farrington-Flint, 2017). Generally, child necessities encompass food, shelter, and emotional warmth, and making sure the babies can access them can easily influence their connection with the caregiver. However, not all young ones will have the same demands; thus, as a parent, it is important to understand the unique needs of the infant.
Since caregivers spend significant time with the infants, it is easier for them to detect a change in the emotional status of the young ones. Parents who can adjust to changes in an infant’s feelings, including identifying when they are sad, angry, or even happy, can influence their attachment. For instance, assuming the child is sad, if the caregiver responds by engaging the young one might make the emotions to reduce, and the infant might become jovial. Such behaviors can make the baby control emotions effectively, enabling the child to feel secure around the care provider.
Similarly, responding promptly to the needs of the infant can have a significant impact on their level of attachment to the parent. For example, caregivers who tend to react swiftly to demands such as hunger can make the young one believe and look forward to them. In most cases, when the care needs of the infants are met prior, there is a high likelihood that the child will not experience issues such as distress. The aspect will enable the young one to develop trust leading to a sense of security in their relationship with the parent (Farrington-Flint, 2017). In addition, the aspect of consistency in the provision of basic needs further influences attachment positively.
In other words, once a child is used to a given caregiver to manage and respond to the requirements, they are more likely to adapt and depend on the care providers. Therefore, reliability is a fundamental facet in enhancing the ability of caregivers to promote secure attachment. The parent must develop a proper routine that can easily be predicted by the infant for proper connection to enhance the relationship.
Play Needs
Generally, play is an essential aspect of child development, and it is necessary for the caregivers to properly understand the needs of each infant to facilitate proper childhood growth. An effective care provider’s sensitivity to baby play demands can result in the development of a secure attachment. Involving in games allows the young ones to have an opportunity to properly explore and interact with their surroundings accordingly. Parents should engage in play with their infant as a way to influence their aspect of exploration. When caregivers take time and commit to baby’s games, responding to their various cues facilitates secure attachment (Farrington-Flint, 2017). The element of playing together will enable the young one to know that the care providers value their needs and are ever ready to be part of their demands. After developing the perception, if the baby feels insecure, they will approach the caregiver for security and other needed support.
Furthermore, in order to build a strong bond between the infant and the caregiver, it is necessary for the parent to adapt to the baby’s interests. Children often develop different playing tactics that might be strange but interesting. It is essential for the care providers not to limit themselves to the known games but rather evolve and participate in the game as per the demands of the young ones (Amodia-Bidakowska et al., 2020). The practice will enable the baby to feel comfortable and understood, making the infant feel free and develop a secure attachment. Therefore, by fostering such a relationship, the child will know that the parent prefers their ideas and agrees with their preferences.
Similarly, children are explorers by nature, especially at the age when they are trying to understand various aspects they come across in their surroundings. To enhance the effective development of secure attachment, the caregiver should encourage the element of exploration. To promote secure attachment, caregivers should allow the infants to properly explore their environment through approaches such as issuing them with different play toys. The method will increase children’s curiosity as they will tend to try and examine how each of the items is functioning as well as the difference between them.
Influence of Culture on Parenting
Generally, cultural perspective plays a significant role in determining the nature of the relationship caregiver develops with the infant. Cultural beliefs normally shape the perception of parents on how they rear their young ones. Various aspects, including the role of parents, discipline, socialization, extended family and even the development of infants, are part of practices that are common among most cultures. In most cases, the western culture differs significantly from other societies in their viewpoint on child-parent relationships.
In some communities, parents’ role in the life of infants is well-outlined. For instance, there are cultures that emphasize majorly the responsibilities of the mother in the development of the infant. Similarly, some societies give more weight to the fathers and perceive it as mandatory for the child to associate with the father figure most of the time. In addition, the values of the community can further dictate and shape the contribution of extended family members in caring for toddlers. For example, in some cultures, uncles, aunts, and grandparents are more involved in child rearing and impact the baby’s social and emotional development. On the contrary, some cultural norms limit the participation of non-nuclear members in the infant’s upbringing. In such cultures, babies are cared for by the mother, mother and elder sibling.
Moreover, some cultures, especially Western culture, beliefs in the aspect of intense interaction with the toddler. Furthermore, the group is accustomed to encouraging social exchanges with the infants (Farrington-Flint, 2017). In other words, society embraces the aspect of simulation and makes the child more active. For instance, they engage young ones in singing, playing and even cuddling. The practices are different from other cultures, including African norms.
In most cases, African beliefs limit the interaction of infants with their parents, especially fathers. In the case of involvement, the toddler only relates to and interacts with their mothers. The perspective of each culture makes them have different approaches to caring for babies. In addition, cultural beliefs influence the parenting styles most caregivers adopt while raising young ones. This aspect makes children be cared for differently across cultures. For instance, some communities believe in authoritative parenting techniques whereby caregivers engage the infants in critical issues such as choosing what they prefer but giving the young one’s conditions. Similarly, other societies embrace practices such as permissive, where parent shows care and love to the babies. In most cases, the variation is brought about by the expectation of parents on their children’s development.
Furthermore, some cultural beliefs influence the nature of socialization and dictate how parents socialize with infants. For example, in Western cultures, toddlers are encouraged to express their feelings and concerns to their elders, such as their close relatives (Garcia et al., 2019). In other words, they are taught the aspect of cooperation and interdependence. This case differs from other societies where infants are developed to become more self-reliant. In such communities, parents give limited attention to the young ones, and in most cases, babies are left to play alone with or without toys. The focus is to make the young ones strong enough to withstand possible challenges without having to depend on their parent.
Another crucial aspect of parenting that culture dictates is discipline. Generally, various societies have distinct perceptions of how infants should be corrected in case they make mistakes. Some cultures believe in verbal correction whereby the child is talked to and warned about the issue committed. If the baby persists, they might be grounded, and denied opportunities they value, such as playing with their preferred toys or they are banned from watching their favorite TV shows (Sahithya et al., 2019). While on other communities, parents believe in physical punishment, whereby in case of any mistake, the infants are whipped directly to barre them from engaging in such destructive behaviors. In such a situation, cultural perspective has created two different approaches to instilling discipline by parents.
Lastly, cultural beliefs further influence the communication style a parent has with the infant. Some cultures embrace direct conversation with their young ones as a way of enabling care providers to have an impact and create a secure attachment with the babies. On the other hand, some communities believe that parents should have an indirect conversation with the young ones. The practice is seen as enhancing respect between the toddler and the parent. Therefore, in order to effectively care for the infants, parents should understand their cultural perception to enable them to modify areas which might impact the infant’s development.
Reflection
After submitting the TMA 01 classwork, the tutors provided feedback having several comments identifying specific areas that require adjustments. Based on the comments and advice from the educator, some of the skills highlighted in part 1 that require improvement include clarity, being explicit, making the connection between the theories, and excessive repetition. Following the feedback on the clarity issue, it is stated that the work was not precise, and some concepts were not clarified effectively. According to the feedback of the assignment part 1, the mentioned aspects were not covered and needed improvement, especially in the upcoming TMA 02, to make the assignment meet the required standards.
Similarly, in part 2 of the assignment, the tutor identified several areas that require thorough development. Some of the critical sections depicted in the feedback include the need to be more detailed. In addition, the lecturer highlighted the issue of linking the learning journals and questions. Furthermore, the comments state the need to be more specific when addressing core areas for adjustment. Moreover, the tutor included development points which are precision, linking to essay questions and reflection.
When writing the assignment TMA 02, I took into consideration the three main development points identified in the comment to assist me in developing a proper academic paper. For the case of precision, in part 1 of the assignment, I depicted core concepts and elaborated on them within the paragraph. To make the work more precise, I used examples to elaborate the topic sentences for practical understanding. Furthermore, I ensured I discussed each point in a paragraph to evade the aspect of repetition in the assignment. Similarly, within some of the sections, I discussed at least two different points, but I used connectors such as in addition, moreover, furthermore to create effective flow within the respective paragraph. Apart from the mentioned aspects, I used references to support the discussions accordingly.
Similarly, on linking the essay to the questions, I began by introducing the core concepts to be discussed in the paper, which was the caregiver’s sensitivity to the care needs of the infant and how they impact the aspect of secure attachment. To remain relevant throughout part 1, I included practices that positively influence the affection between the baby and the care provider. Same case I applied in part 1 b that entailed the facet of play. By focusing on the details, it was easier to link the questions effectively.
Lastly, I have been able to receive feedback and take them as a tool for improvement. Previously comments used to scare me, but now I perceive them as a chance for improvement. Similarly, I have gained the ability to effectively paraphrase points borrowed from other scholars accordingly. I believe the effort I made toward writing various concepts in my own words has positively impacted my skills. Furthermore, I am capable of citing different sources effectively. I have gained proper insight into various referencing formats; hence I find it easier to use them within my discussion.
References
Amodia-Bidakowska, A., Laverty, C., & Ramchandani, P. G. (2020). Father-child play: A systematic review of its frequency, characteristics and potential impact on children’s development. Developmental Review, 57. Web.
Farrington-Flint, L. (2017). Early childhood literacy. Sage Publications.
Garcia, F., Serra, E., Garcia, O. F., Martinez, I., & Cruise, E. (2019). A third emerging stage for the current digital society? Optimal parenting styles in Spain, the United States, Germany, and Brazil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2333. Web.
Sahithya, B. R., Manohari, S. M., & Vijaya, R. (2019). Parenting styles and its impact on children–a cross cultural review with a focus on India. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 22(4), 357-383. Web.