Across the world, children are exposed to different environments from their infancy. As such, children present different behaviors. The level of income of the parents, level of education, and maternal postpartum depression are some of the factors that differentiate environments. Whereas level income and parents level of education determines the quality of life given to the child, postpartum depression, on the other hand, determines the quality of care given to the child at infancy ( Bernard-Bonnin, 2004) . Bernard-Bonnin (2004) also points out that 10 to 15 percent of women experience postpartum depression that lasts for about six months. In essence, the depression compromises the ability of the child's primary caregiver to provide a favorable environment for proper cognitive and socioemotional development. The difference in behavior people exhibit across different environments prompts one to investigate whether the environment can affect a child’s development. The environment affects the child’s brain development, language development in their early stages in life, physical health, and the child’s temperament. It also presents a case study on the effect of the environment on children's development in the Amazon.
The right environment promotes the healthy development of the child's brain while a poor environment enhances a child’s brain's weak growth. The first eight years of the child’s brain development are fundamental. Thus, the child requires adequate nutrition, non-exposure to toxins, and healthy interaction with people (Maekawa, Nakamura & Nakayama, 2017) . As discussed by Cusick and Georgieff (2016), children require the right kind of nutrition from the period of conception to at least eight months to develop a healthy brain. Maekawa et al. (2017) also point out that the development of a healthy brain is also affected by exposure to toxins . Finally, as Lally and Mangione (2017 ) notes, after the child is born, they are open to quick learning. Their quick learning makes the healthy development of their brains depend on healthy interaction with their caregivers.
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The environment affects a child's cognitive development. Before birth, the child develops a structure that facilitates cognitive function. The structures include the brain and the sensory organs. The development of the structure relies on the appropriate pregnancy environment. Thus a poor pregnancy environment is likely to compromise the quality of the cognitive structures. As Oswalt (2020) notes, children below the age of three years have a profound understanding of vocabulary and understand the meaning of more words than they can speak. By the age of three, their vocabulary base increases to around 900 words. In the next three years, they undergo a rapid language explosion that expands their vocabulary base to approximately 10,000 words. On the contrary, as affirmed by Lally & Mangione (2017) , a poor environment is likely to delay or impair the child’s cognitive function, mainly language.
The environment affects the child’s temperamental development. Their unique temperament dictates how they respond to stimuli and interact with people and the environment and start from the environment provided during pregnancy. The structures associated with temperament are formed during pregnancy and heavily relies on the provision of a toxin-free environment with adequate nutrients. Therefore, a poor environment during pregnancy is likely to compromise the formation of structure associated with temperament. Lally and Mangione (2017) argue that after birth, the child's temperament development varies with the caregivers. For instance, when the children are overprotected, they are likely to become anxious, fearful, and withdrawn. On the other hand, parents should set strict boundaries for children who exhibit a lack of fear to limit their exposure to harm. An early parenting method that is not selective and unique to the child’s temperament is likely to complicate their temperamental development. As such, they have difficulty interacting with others, even when they grow into adulthood (Lally & Mangione, 2017) .
The environment can also affect the physical health of the child. During development, instability in the environment is likely to present a deficiency of one or more of the nutritional elements in the child's development, thus exposing the child to malnutrition ( Lyn et al. (2013) . According to Cusick and Georgieff (2016), malnutrition is a risk factor of poor child mental development because the mother may lack the necessary nutrients to sustain a healthy pregnancy. Cusick and Georgieff (2016) point out that 65% of children born of diabetic Mellitus mothers are likely to have brain development issues due to iron stores that are associated with protein nutrition. The malnourishment does not only expose the child to poor physical health but also increases the risk of contracting diseases. Other cases of health-related cases have been reported in children above five years. Lyn et al. (2013) note that over 22 million children that are five years and below are exposed to high calories foods when they are left at the day-care, where they spent an average of 22.5 hours a week. The high calories and exposes them to obesity and its associated health risks such as cardiovascular disorders.
A Case Study on the Environmental Effects on the children’s Neouropsycomotor Development in the Amazon
A research conducted by Pantoja et al., (2018) , shows a classic example of how the environment can affect children’s development. The research reveals that Amazon is undergoing rapid economic development. For instance, In 2012, the poverty level was at 3.5% improvement, from 14% of people living below $1.25. The poverty level affects the quality of life the families give to their children. Pantoja et al., 2018, uses a sample of 50 children between the two and three years of age. The study seeks to find out how the quality of life of the children affected their neouropsycomotor development. It was noted that families that led a poor live invested less in the quality of life for their children. Thus, the children had limited access to facilities such as toys, and interactive games that enhances their neouropsycomotor development compares to families with better socioeconomic resources. Through a Denver II screening, the study established that thirteen children, mostly from low-income families, presented delayed development of speech as compared to those from better socioeconomically families.
In conclusion, the environment is crucial in a child's development. It affects the child's brain development, language development in their early stages in life, physical health, and the child's temperament. The development of the child's brain relies on the nutrition the child gets from inception. It is also vital for the child to be free from exposure to toxins and have proper care-giving. Language, on the other hand, also depends on the care given to the child and nutrition. Lack of any of the two aspects is likely to delay or complicate the child's language development. The environment also affects the temperament of the child and relies on the quality of life the child gets. Finally, the general health of the child is fundamental for their growth to adulthood. Malnutrition exposes them to poor physical fitness and the prevalence of diseases. On the other hand, exposure to high calories increases the risk of obesity and the prevalence of cardiovascular complications. Taking the example of the 50 children discussed in the Amazon case study, it was noted that poor quality of life compromised the development of children by mainly delaying their language. The children from low-income families got less exposure to toys that were crucial for their healthy development.
References
Bernard-Bonnin, A. (2004). Maternal depression and child development. Paediatrics & Child Health , 9 (8), 575-583. DOI: 10.1093/pch/9.8.575
Cusick, S., & Georgieff, M. (2016). The Role of Nutrition in Brain Development: The Golden Opportunity of the “First 1000 Days”. The Journal Of Pediatrics , 175 , 16-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.05.013
Lally, J., & Mangione, P. (2017). Caring Relationships: The Heart of Early Brain Development. Young Children , np, 72 (2).
Maekawa, F., Nakamura, K., & Nakayama, S. (2017). Chemicals in the Environment and Brain Development (p. 6). [Place of publication not identified]: Frontiers Media SA.
Oswalt, A. (2020). Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Language. Retrieved 6 January 2020, from https://www.gracepointwellness.org/462-child-development-parenting-early-3-7/article/12761-early-childhood-cognitive-development-language-development
Pantoja, A., Souza, G., Nunes, E., & Pontes, L. (2018). Effect analysis of environmental factors on the children’s Amazon community neuropsychomotor development. Journal Of Human Growth And Development , 28 (3), 232-239. DOI: 10.7322/jhgd.152158
