CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT

Culture and Development Christie Guite EDU/305 April 2, 2012 Kristen Parker

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Culture and Development As a child I distinctly remember where I was raised and what I had come from. The positive or negative influences or environment are both a part of our culture and development. These two aspects , play such an important role in the lives of infants and toddlers. Different factors influence infant and toddler culture, these factors have lifelong effects on the development of infants and toddlers. Culture is precisely made of traditional and nontraditional customs, practices, and social behaviors. Children are raised to carry on and believe in the same culture as their parents. For instance, when parents are socially involved, the children will grow up being more social. When parents raise infants and toddlers in a stimulating environment, the more they will learn. (Culture and Development, 2012) If a child is raised in a less development environment or culture, they are more likely to become developmentally slower. (Culture and Development, 2012) Both cultural and biological influences encourage development in infant and toddlers. A child born in a loving nurturing home is most likely going to receive love and support throughout their whole life. Parents that nurture their children encourage them to make good choices and they encourage the child to develop. Family life is part of nature, which provides the child with his/her own identity. (Culture and Development, 2012) However, there are children that have supportive families developmentally but lack the nurturing aspect. In hind sight the child grows up not feeling loved or nurtured. These children may not do their best

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academically because they do not have the love and support at home. Love and support are what infants and toddlers essentially need to develop. Children begin learning behaviors such as how to behave in public, how to share and how to be social with others at a very young age. Children learn from the culture of their family. At an early age parents quickly become role models to infants and toddlers; its important to instill good behaviors at all times. Parents need to teach their children what they what is important so that their children can mimic appropriate behaviors. Understanding behavior; essentially what is right and wrong is instilled at the beginning of life through nurturing, love, patience, leadership and problem solving. (Culture and Development, 2012). Exceptional role models are key, in the developmental stages of infants and toddlers. 5 Key Practices when working with infants and toddlers from a variety of cultures are: Have an open mind to each status. Have learning objectives and toys that will be stimulating to each child. Create a lesson plan to benefit each child. Create a safe, loving, nurturing environment to each child. Treat all students the same.

Instilling these five practices in any type of culture will help encourage developmental skills in infants and toddlers.

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References Culture and Development. (2012). Retrieved from http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-

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