Page 10 - Final Lesson-2.pmd

Early Childhood in India

2.4.1 Factors Affecting Childhood

Two major factors are nature or heredity and nurture or care. Let us study about
these in brief. Notes

Heredity
Physical characteristics are transmitted from parents to children through their genes.
Children’s physical appearance such as height, weight, body structure, the colour
of the eye, the texture of the hair and to some extent intelligence and aptitudes
depends on the parents. Children can also inherit diseases and condition from the
parents such as heart disease, obesity which will affect growth and development.
Intervention and environmental support can bring out the best in children.

Environment

Physical and psychological stimulation can play a significant role in the development
of children. Physical surroundings giving positive modeling, as well as interactive
social environment and loving relationships with family and peer are important
environmental features that create aspiration among children. A good school and a
loving family builds in children strong social and interpersonal skills, which will
enable them to excel in academics and aspire to be useful citizens. This will, of
course, be different for children who are raised in stressful environments.

Other factors which affect childhood are:

Exercise

Children need play and exercise to grow physically. Children need activity for their
limbs and gain muscular strength and bone mass. Appropriate exercise keeps children
fit, healthy and helps them reach proper milestones.

Sex of the child

Boys and girls grow differently. Much of their physical characteristics are through
heredity but the rate of growth varies according to sex specially nearing puberty.
Temperaments of boys and girls may also vary, making them show interest in different
things.

Nutrition

The statistical presentation of the demography indicated that many children in
India are undernourished and stunting and wasting are high. Balanced diet and
the required quantity of food are required for children to grow, ward off disease
and stay healthy. Nutritious food is crucial for children as they need energy to
grow and repair. Malnutrition, especially absence of protein, can cause
stunting.Overeating can cause obesity. A balanced diet that is rich in proteins,
vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and fats is essential for the development of brain
and body.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION 21