ASSESSMENT # 1

HEREDITY, ENVIRONMENT, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN

MIDDLE CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

GROUP MEMBERS:

ASHANA NARINE

CHANDROWTIE ODELL ROOPNARINE

MELISSA NARINE

FELICE MINGO

ASHMINIE HUSAIN

MIDDLE TO LATER CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

EDU 113

CYRIL POTTER COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

MISS MICHELLE QUALIO

31 OCTOBER 2023
TASK 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Middle childhood is a crucial period for a child’s development, and various environmental
factors can influence it. These factors include family, peers, school, and community.

Family plays a significant role in shaping a child’s development during middle childhood.
Children who grow up in supportive and nurturing families tend to have better social skills,
higher self-esteem, and better academic performance, while on the other hand, children who
grow up in families with high levels of conflict or neglect may experience developmental delays
and emotional problems.

Peers – Children can learn social skills by interacting with their peers, and these interactions can
have a significant impact on their development. Positive peer relationships can lead to better
social skills, higher self-esteem, and improved academic performance while negative peer
relationships, such as bullying or leaving peers out of an event or activity on purpose, can lead to
emotional problems, poor academic performance, and all kinds of mixed feelings.

Schools are another environmental factor that can influence childhood development. Schools
provide children with opportunities to learn new skills and traits, develop social relationships,
and build self-esteem including learning the value of life. Teachers play a vital role in the kid's
life and an essential role in shaping children’s development by providing support and
guidance. Schools that provide a safe and supportive environment can help children thrive
academically and socially to make our children happy.

Community factors such as access to resources, community safety, and social support can also
influence middle childhood development. Children who grow up in communities with high
levels of poverty or crime may experience developmental delays and emotional
problems. Children who grow up in communities with access to resources such as parks,
libraries, and community centers may have better academic performance and social skills.
Children who grew up in a poor community still strive for his/her ability to make the community
better and their self-better and the majority of them succeed in doing it.
Family, peers, school, and community are all critical environmental factors influencing middle
childhood development. By providing supportive environments that promote positive
relationships, opportunities for growth, and a better learning system so we can help children
thrive during this important period of their lives to become future leaders or let them know their
capability.

TASK 2 – NURTURE VS. NATURE DEBATE

The nature vs nurture debate revolves around the impact of genetic and environmental factors on
child development. Nature encompasses genes and hereditary factors that contribute to a person’s
unique physical appearance, personality, and physiology, while nurture encompasses
environmental variables that affect a person including their early childhood experiences, family
and social relationships, culture, and community.
Nature and nurture significantly influence a child’s development, with genes determining
physical characteristics, personality traits and cognitive abilities. The environment in which a
child grows can also influence their behaviour, personality, and cognitive development. Poverty-
affluent environments can lead to developmental delays and lower cognitive abilities.
Nature and nurture are interconnected factors that influences a child’s personality and
development. For example, a perfect pitch, a musical ability, can be inherited but not manifested
without early musical training. Height is another example of a trait influenced by an interaction
between nature and nurture. A child might inherit the genes for height, however if they grow up
in a deprived environment where proper nourishment isn’t received, they might never attain the
height they could have had if they’d grown up in a healthier environment.

The Significance of Environmental Influence in Shaping Personality and

Behaviour
The ways how different types of environments affect a child’s personality and behaviour are:
 Family: the teachings provided by parents, relationships between different members, and
parental behaviour towards the child influence the development of personality traits and
their behaviours.
 School: The academic challenges, socialization, and co-curricular activities that may help
with self-grooming. Peer pressure, socializing issues, bullying can develop anger.
 Culture: Norms and dominant traits are determined by cultural backgrounds by society.
Parents must understand the importance of how personality and behaviour development of a
child is a sensitive matter. One wrong action and you can be responsible for triggering the
development of a destructive trait like uncontrollable anger. In severe cases, a child surrounded
by a toxic and manipulative environment may develop personality disorders which can be
difficult to treat and have a permanent effect. Hence, if you want your child to lead a healthy and
stable life, it is essential to educate yourself how the role of environment influence personality
and behaviour development in children. This may be the key to dealing with situations patiently
and wisely. (The Role of Environment in Personality Development, 2020)

Case Study – How the Environment influences the development of a child?

Tieanna is an 11-year-old girl who lives in the rural area of Strathavon with her sickly mother
and 5 smaller brothers. She is a pupil of Grade 6 and will soon be sitting the N.G.S.A. Tieanna is
often absent from school to assist her mother at home. She does not complete her work and has
limited access to technology and necessary materials to aid in her studies.

Analysis of Case Study

Tieanna is being influenced by environmental circumstances, the lack of cultural values, social
interactions, and emotional support would cause Tieanna to be deprived from access to
technology and a better education due to the poor lack of the support system from home.
Tieanna has been greatly affected by environmental circumstances. These would include Tieanna
being the eldest of her 5 siblings she would have to spend time assisting her sickly mother at
home, with necessary chores such as cooking, washing clothes, and preparing her younger
siblings to go to school. She would hardly have time to study, is regularly absent from school and
is missing out on a lot of work. Due to there not having a stable income she is unable to have
access to technology.
Bibliography
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://online.maryville.edu/blog/nature-vs-nurture-child-development/

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://wohum.org/nature-vs-nurture-in-child-development-examining-the-roles-

of-genetics-and-environment/

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-nature-versus-nurture-2795392

Reference: The Role of Environment In Personality Development. (2020, September 16). Code
of Living. https://www.codeofliving.com/blog/role-of-environment-in-personality-development/