How To Use Child Psychology In Parenting

By Allison Gamble

Parenting is the biggest responsibility you will ever have. From infancy through adolescence, children are constantly developing. As such, your parenting job is constantly evolving. Parents need all of the help they can get. One strategy is to study the principles of child psychology. Even if you don't have a psychology degree these principles can help you understand what is happening mentally, emotionally and physically with your children as they age.

Child psychology starts before your child is born. When a baby is developing in the womb, basic cognitive development is taking place. Certain reflexes are formed during this time. Babies also become accustomed to their mother's voice while they are in the womb. This happens naturally, but it is a good idea to constantly talk to the baby. The father should do this as well. The more you speak to a baby while they are still in the womb, the more adjusted to your voices they will be when they are born.

As infants, children develop rapidly. During this period they begin learning certain perceptions, social systems, languages and behaviors. Infants have brain synapses that help them learn things and having a healthy environment is an essential part of their learning process. In fact, some theories suggest that if a child loses a certain synapse, they can never learn that thing. There have even been reports of extreme cases exist where children were so isolated that they never learned to speak. Thus as a parent, you want to make sure your child is surrounded by a good environment. Verbal communication, toys and music all contribute to helping your child's cognitive development.

As your child grows in to the toddler stage, self-reliance becomes important. At this stage children can walk, talk and use the bathroom on their own. This is the stage where they start to learn independence. As such it is important you let your toddler do certain things on his or her own. Monitor what they do, but don’t constantly do everything for them. If you do, it could hinder their independence.

The next step of your child’s development is attending pre-school and elementary school. There are two major child psychology principles that apply here. One is the importance of social interaction. Children will begin the process of networking with peers and it is vital for parents to help them learn how to handle situations. Also, children must learn to balance fun and imagination with taking responsibility. It is a good idea to assign your child small chores that help them learn how to be responsible.

As your child grows older, he or she will start to look at their lives outside of home. This is when children learn skills and information. For parents, it is important to reward accomplishments so that children continue on the right path. Additionally, it is important to pay attention to the behavior of your child. Many issues develop at this stage in life. If your child is acting quite or disinterested in something, ask them what is happening. If you ignore warnings signs, your child could wind up developing serious social and emotional problems.

Ultimately, your child will reach adolescence. Adolescence is much more than just puberty. This is the phase where children will develop the identity they will carry in to adulthood. Relationships with friends become more serious, social situations become more intense and moral dilemmas become more frequent. Your child is also likely to keep secrets from you and take greater risks. The smartest things a parent can do are to pay attention and ask questions. In order for your child to get through adolescence, they will need to a lot of it on their own. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't monitor what they do and how they feel. Ultimately, you must extend a certain level of trust to your child. In return, you won't seem pushy or overbearing to them.

Parenting isn't an exact science. However, the principles of child psychology are fairly universal. Understanding child psychology can not only help you get your child to where they need to go in life, but it can also help you notice when a serious problem is present. If you notice your child isn't developing as they should, you can take measures to fix any issues.

-Allison Gamble