Healthy parenting and effective caregiving in the first two years of life are vital to a child's emotional development. According to the Child Development Institute, a child who is nurtured, loved and handled often develops an optimistic view of the world and feels secure in it. A neglected child develops low self-esteem, insecurity and fearful reactions to his environment.
Function
Early childhood emotional development is a process that starts in infancy and progresses throughout adulthood. The function of parents in the earliest years is a vital component of the process. According to the Child Development Institute, emotional maturity and healthy socialization are learned abilities. While children may be born with different temperaments, how they react to the world and find their own place within it must be taught.
Effects
The effects of poor parenting in the first five years of life are noticeable in a child's behavior and academic development. Lack of emotional and social development leads to poor grades, lack of interest in playing with other children and a negative attitude toward authority, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty. Approximately 10 to 14 percent of children in the United States exhibit emotional problems that affect their social development. The effects of poor emotional development show up as behavior problems primarily in boys, while girls often suffer from low self-esteem issues.
Features
In addition to being held and nurtured as babies, children undergo healthy early childhood development as a result of a range of positive experiences. According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, children need to form healthy, satisfying relationships with adults and other children to learn how to interact and react to various experiences with other people. Children need to be taught how to play, how to express their emotions effectively and how to learn new skills.
Benefits
As children develop physically, they need to be nurtured and loved so they can find their place in their environment and feel safe and secure. According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, a child's sense of identity directly correlates to early emotional experiences and learning. A child's quality of life improves as she learns to manage her emotions and to handle the various experiences she encounters as she grows. The ability to learn and build friendships relies on positive early childhood experiences.
Warning
Lack of healthy early childhood emotional and social development often impacts those same children as adults. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, children with behavior problems often turn to crime and illegal activities as they age. Delinquency and more serious mental health conditions are often found in children who did not receive the emotional support they needed as babies.
