The question of who has the greater impact on a child’s development – parents or peers – is one of the most discussed topics in modern psychology. It is well known that both parents and peers have a significant influence on the cognitive and physical development of a child, but it is also important to determine the degree of that impact. Although peers can have some influence on children, there are numerous studies that show that parents often play a major role in the cognitive and physical development of their children.
At the center of studying the impact of parents on children’s progress is the nurture theory. This theory implies that the environment and upbringing have a decisive influence on a person’s development, and interactions with close people play a key role in this process. Parental interaction with children is discussed by theorists as being very important for their mental and psychological development (Ambert, 2020). In this context, it can be said that parents are the primary agents of socialization, who shape the beliefs and values of their children. This process begins in early childhood and continues throughout life (Brody & Shaffer, 1982). Parents who provide their children with an appropriate environment, including education, language development, and access to resources, contribute to the development of intelligence and successful socialization.
Additionally, parents can give their children both correct and incorrect examples of behavior that children can imitate, and parents act as role models in this case. Thus, modeling is one of the most significant processes of upbringing, and parents should spend enough time on communication with children and active exploration of the world to teach young individuals to build proper and healthy relationships with other people. Studies show that children whose parents show care and support are more likely to exhibit behavior that is considered socially acceptable (Goossens & Jackson, 2020). Thus, parents’ behavior, relationships, and reactions to events in the environment have a great impact on the development of children.
The education of children is not only the responsibility of the school, but also of the parents. They should help their children develop both mentally and physically. According to researchers, children whose parents are actively involved in their education and motivate them to study usually demonstrate better academic results and self-learning capabilities (Ambert, 2020; Grolnick & Slowiaczek, 1994). Overall, parents who set high goals for their children and provide them with education promote the development critical thinking and the ability to analyze information.
Children’s physical development and safety also depend largely on parents. Age-related development standards that assume certain physical and mental abilities are grounded in providing proper nutrition, care, and physical activity from the parents’ side. In most cases, parents should teach children safety rules and help children learn how to eat properly, lead a healthy lifestyle, behave in the streets, and develop effective habits (Goossens & Jackson, 2020). Thus, parents who provide a healthy environment contribute to the development of their children’s strength, endurance, and coordination.
However, when studying the literature on the influence of parents on the child’s development, it is possible to notice that not all aspects are researched and discussed in detail. It is difficult for researchers to take into account all the factors that can influence a child’s development, such as genetic predispositions, personality traits, and the influence of the surrounding environment (Ambert, 2020; Goossens & Jackson, 2020). Therefore, for future research, it is important to focus more on identifying which aspects of parenting have the greatest influence on the development of children and to determine which factors can strengthen or weaken this influence.
To conclude, following the principles of the nurture theory and modeling and focusing on parents’ role in child education, physical development, and safety, it is possible to state that parents exert more impact on children than peers. Parents have a vital effect on the development of their children because they can influence children’s views and behavioral patterns. If parents pay much attention to interacting with children, young individuals form their development and mental progress following their parents’ examples.
References
Ambert, A. M. (2020). Parents, children, and adolescents: Interactive relationships and development in context. Taylor & Francis.
Brody, G. H., & Shaffer, D. R. (1982). Contributions of parents and peers to children’s moral socialization. Developmental Review, 2(1), 31-75.
Goossens, L., & Jackson, S. (Eds.). (2020). Handbook of adolescent development. Taylor & Francis.
Grolnick, W. S., & Slowiaczek, M. L. (1994). Parents’ involvement in children’s schooling: A multidimensional conceptualization and motivational model. Child Development, 65(1), 237-252.