The intellectual development of children is a process that occurs over years of growth. While some intellectual development can be attributed to genetic factors, much of it is influenced by things that can be controlled through the right environmental circumstances, according to John Santrock in his 2007 book "A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development." Therefore, less-than-ideal developmental starts for children do not have to negatively impact their intellects for life.
Contributors
It is largely believed intelligence is influenced by environmental factors and is capable of being improved, according to Santrock. Similarly, socioeconomic status has an impact on intellectual development, as the author notes. Specifically, parents on welfare are less likely to engage in verbal communication with their children. This is an important factor, because parent communication is a key predictor of intelligence levels at 3 years of age. Also, schooling--that is, the quality of education--contributes to the intellectual development of children.
Milestones
Between birth and the age of 3, intellectual development is assessed in three areas-- motor, mental and behavioral, according to Santrock. The author states that by 6 months of age, children should be able to express pleasure and displeasure and search for objects that are close by. By 12 months, children should be able to follow simple directions and say words like "mama." Intellect tends to be stable throughout childhood into adolescence; however, it does have the ability to change.
Differences
The idea of what intellect is varies across cultures, according to Santrock. For example, Westerners tend to define intelligence as reasoning and thinking skills, whereas people of Eastern origin tend to attribute communication and successful social role participation to intellect. In Zambia, for example, cleverness and responsibility are considered characteristics of a high intellect.
Considerations
Sometimes the ways intellect is measured can be biased, as Santrock explains. Specifically, test of intellect may not be accurate measures because they can overlook the impact of culture. For instance, people who do not speak English or who are nonstandard English speakers may not understand a question because of the way in which it is worded. Yet, they may have otherwise gotten answers correct if the questions were presented in a culturally relevant context.
Recommendations
While things like schooling and stimulation are important to the intellectual development of children, proper nutrition should not be overlooked. Even when good schooling may be available, an inadequate diet can delay the intellectual development of a child, as Aryeh Stein, MPH, Ph.D. and colleagues note in the July 2008 issue of "Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine." Therefore, ensuring a properly balanced diet is something that every caretaker of children should do.
References
- "A Topical Approach to Life-Span Development"; John W. Santrock, 2007
- "Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine"; Nutritional Supplementation in Early Childhood, Schooling, and Intellectual Functioning in Adulthood. A Prospective Study in Guatemala; Aryeh D. Stein, MPH, Ph.D . et al.; July 2008
