MOTHERS' DAY EDITION: ROLES OF A MOTHER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

 

ROLES OF A MOTHER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Being a mother is one of the most important roles a woman can ever play. Mothers play a huge role in their children’s lives; caring for them, loving them, teaching them, and so much more.

 

The way a child develops can be largely attributed to the role that their parents and caregivers play in their lives.

 

Children thrive when they have a secure and positive relationship with people, especially their parents. Early childhood is a period in which children learn a lot from their surrounding and the people around them. At this point, a mother’s relationship with her child is crucial. A mother is a teacher in every aspect of a child’s developmental growth – social, emotional, physical, cognitive and independence.

 

The networks in a child’s brain are still being formed during the first five years of their lives. Children at this stage are particularly receptive to human contact.  How parents interact with their children and engage them in cognitive, social and emotional developmental activities during these years will define their future selves.

 A mother has the biggest influence on her child, and their relationship develops from when the baby is in the womb.

 

Becoming a mother is a journey of life-long responsibilities and is filled with moments of happiness, pride, and emotions. It can very well be called a roller coaster ride.

There is so much a mother constantly has to do for her child, knowingly and unknowingly.

 

Here are some roles a mother must play in her child’s development.

 

Build the first bonds of emotional attachment.

As a mother and the primary caregiver in your child’s earliest days, weeks and months, you are your child’s first link of any emotional bonding and attachment. Your baby will learn their first emotions in relation to you.

The way you bond with your baby in the earliest months and years will leave a deep impact on your child’s overall well-being and development. The mother and child relationship you create with your child during the earliest years will greatly influence the way your child behaves in social and emotional settings, especially in later years.

As a mother, how soon you react to your child’s needs and how you try to take care of those needs will teach your child a lot about understanding others’ and their emotional requirements.

A good mother must be attentive towards her child, no matter how small or unimportant their need may seem.

 

Teach them about trust and security.

Two very important life skills that a child will learn from the mother are learning to trust and providing emotional security.

A mother has the onus of teaching her child about the importance of being able to trust and be trustworthy. If a child can trust the mother, he will be confident and emotionally secure.

 

A mother must be honest with her child and teach them the importance of always telling the truth.

 

Be sensitive

As a mother, there will be times when you feel that nothing is going the planned way. It is natural to lose your cool and give up in despair. A mother must be able to think from the point of view of her child.

A child will learn to be sensitive towards others’ needs and thoughts.

A mother may have a certain way of looking at things and doing tasks while the child may have an entirely different view. The mother must try to see the child’s perspective too. If you feel that your child is wrong, try and explain to them what you feel he can do differently.

Never look down on your child’s way of thinking. Understand why they feel the way they do and talk to them about it. Try to connect with your child before you criticize them.

 

 Be kind and loving

The way a mother behaves towards her child will have a lasting impact on a child’s development throughout his/her childhood as well as their adult years.

Always be kind and loving towards your child, no matter how stressed or angry you are. Your response to your child’s day-to-day activities and needs will show them the importance of being loving towards others.

The way a mother speaks to the child and others around them will teach the child about dealing kindly with others.

 

Let them know that family is about being together

Your child will very soon learn the meaning and importance of a family, especially from you.

The way you interact with other members of your family will teach your child about many important relationships in life.

Make sure you introduce your child to different family members and take them to various family outings. Make family time a regular affair at home.

Encourage your child to spend more time with everyone in the family and have family meals together.

 

Have a positive attitude

Sure life is tough, but how you handle your problems can teach your child about the importance of having a positive attitude.

Your response towards various problems, whether small or big, will show your child that having a positive attitude can help overcome many difficulties. Mothers must try to make children understand in their own language by formulating stories around real-life events.

Be positive and teach your child always to think  positive. Encourage your child to learn from their mistakes and never to give up.

Whenever you go through a problem that you can discuss with your child, tell him/her about it and how you think you will deal with it.

 

Encourage your child to work hard

No one can teach your child the value of hard work as much as the mother can.  Your child may feel that working hard is something that makes you tired at the end of the day. But remind them of the immense pleasure and satisfaction it gives you to ensure your child's well being.

Also, when a child puts in effort to participate in any activity or help  in any tasks, do not praise them for their results but their effort and hard work.

Always encourage your child to participate with you in different tasks and appreciate the hard work not the result.

 

8. Teach them the importance of discipline and routine

In their earlier years, a child will be most comfortable while following a set pattern in their daily life.

A child should be shown how to effectively manage time and commitments by following a routine.

A child must learn the importance of discipline and follow some basic routines in his/her daily life.

A mother must find time to sit with her child and chalk out a daily routine. Show your child how it will help them accomplish more tasks in a smaller amount of time.

 

A mother is the one who is with the baby before its arrival and every moment later. She knows what her little one wants and learns naturally about the right ways of upbringing.

 

Hence, every gesture, action, and behavior of a mother greatly influences the child’s character. A mother needs to wear a positive behavior as the baby takes every little aspect of her dear mom and incorporates it into their lifestyle.

 

To be continued in

ROLES OF A MOTHER IN TEENAGE AND EARLY ADULTHOOD 

 

Femi Ladapo writes from Ibadan Nigeria