Children: Psychological and Social Development

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Question Two:
It is essential for children to have healthy psychological development, and this can be affected by many situations. At home, children are affected by their family dynamics, various parenting styles, and sibling relationships. Their peer relationships, friendships, popularity, and even social networks also impact their psychological development. In order for them to have a strong psychological development they often need to have created healthy relationships with both members of their family and their peers (Siegler, DeLoache, & Eisenberg, 2011).
Families contribute to children’s psychological development every day. One way is the dynamics of the family, or how they work together as a unit. The other members of a child’s family will directly and indirectly influence their behaviors. Often, when one family member is experiencing more stress or conflict it begins to affect the other members. This can influence the relationship between the parent and the child, which in turn can impact the child’s psychological development (Siegler, et al., 2011).
There are several reasons why the parenting style will affect the child’s psychological development. Their development is affected by the amount of support and acceptance the parent provides to the child. Another factor that influences their psychological development is the degree of control or demandingness the parent has, and the amount of autonomy the child receives. Children who experienced a healthier development usually have better social and academic outcomes that are associated with parents who are supportive and involved (Siegler, et al., 2011).
Although parenting style can have a large affect on the psychological development of a child, so can the relationshi...

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...ps, social media, and attending school. Using their relationships and associations with others, children shape a sense of who they are and where they fit in. Although children often develop most of their social skills when they are younger, it is important to remember they can continue to learn and grow, as they get older.

Works Cited

Lease, A. M., Kennedy, C. A., & Axelrod, J. L. (2002). Children’s social constructions of popularity. Social Development, 11, 87-109.
Pepler, D., Craig, W. M, & O’Connell, P. (1999). Understanding bullying from a dynamic systems perspective. In Slater, A., & Muir, D. (Eds.), The Blackwell reader in developmental psychology, (pp. 440-451). Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell
Siegler, R., DeLoache, J., & Eisenberg, N. (2011). Theories of Cognitive Development. How children develop (3rd ed., pp. 128-173). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

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