Social practices and cultural beliefs of
modern life are preventing healthy brain and emotional development in
children, according to an interdisciplinary body of research presented
recently at a symposium at the University of Notre Dame.
"Life outcomes for American youth are worsening, especially in
comparison to 50 years ago," says Darcia Narvaez, Notre Dame professor
of psychology who specializes in moral development in children and how
early life experiences can influence brain development.
"Ill-advised practices and beliefs have become commonplace in our
culture, such as the use of infant formula, the isolation of infants in
their own rooms or the belief that responding too quickly to a fussing
baby will 'spoil' it," Narvaez says.
This new research links certain early, nurturing parenting practices
-- the kind common in foraging hunter-gatherer societies -- to specific,
healthy emotional outcomes in adulthood, and has many experts
rethinking some of our modern, cultural child-rearing "norms."
"Breast-feeding infants, responsiveness to crying, almost constant
touch and having multiple adult caregivers are some of the nurturing
ancestral parenting practices that are shown to positively impact the
developing brain, which not only shapes personality, but also helps
physical health and moral development," says Narvaez.
Studies show that responding to a baby's needs (not letting a baby
"cry it out") has been shown to influence the development of conscience;
positive touch affects stress reactivity, impulse control and empathy;
free play in nature influences social capacities and aggression; and a
set of supportive caregivers (beyond the mother alone) predicts IQ and
ego resilience as well as empathy.
The United States has been on a downward trajectory on all of these
care characteristics, according to Narvaez. Instead of being held,
infants spend much more time in carriers, car seats and strollers than
they did in the past. Only about 15 percent of mothers are
breast-feeding at all by 12 months, extended families are broken up and
free play allowed by parents has decreased dramatically since 1970.
Whether the corollary to these modern practices or the result of
other forces, an epidemic of anxiety and depression among all age
groups, including young children; rising rates of aggressive behavior
and delinquency in young children; and decreasing empathy, the backbone
of compassionate, moral behavior, among college students, are shown in
research.
According to Narvaez, however, other relatives and teachers also can
have a beneficial impact when a child feels safe in their presence.
Also, early deficits can be made up later, she says.
"The right brain, which governs much of our self-regulation,
creativity and empathy, can grow throughout life. The right brain grows
though full-body experience like rough-and-tumble play, dancing or
freelance artistic creation. So at any point, a parent can take up a
creative activity with a child and they can grow together."
Source: University of Notre Dame
No comments:
Post a Comment