How background influences child development

Cultural Influences on Child Development

Cultural background gives children a sense of who they are. The unique cultural influences children respond to from birth, including customs and beliefs around food, artistic expression, language, and religion, affect the way they develop emotionally, socially, physically, and linguistically.

When a child’s self-identity is at odds with the social environment due to cultural differences, it can hinder learning. Fortunately, culturally competent educators help children of all cultural backgrounds learn by showing an understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures and how they make each child uniquely valuable.

Because culture is such a powerful indicator of a child’s future well-being, those who work with children, including social workers, counselors, and specialists, need to understand the cultural influences on child development and how they impact the way people grow and learn. A degree such as Maryville University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies can prepare future professionals for success in these roles, providing them with the background and experience they need to support children and families with their services.

The Importance of Childhood Development

Early childhood is a key period of mental and emotional growth, and what children perceive and experience can shape their future: Our childhood environments and how we respond to them can predict the course for our health and well-being as adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports, “Although the brain continues to develop and change into adulthood, the first eight years can build a foundation for future learning, health, and life success. … How the brain grows is strongly affected by the child’s experiences with other people and the world.”

To understand the environment’s impact on a developing child, let’s look at the three main ways children process the information around them as they grow.

Classical conditioning. Drawing associations between a stimulus and response. For example, children in religious families might associate bedtime with prayers.
Operant conditioning. Drawing associations between a reward and an action. For example, children might receive dessert after eating their vegetables.
Observational learning. Absorbing and copying what they see from others in real life or in the media. For example, a child might say, “Time to clean up” because a teacher says it in school.

Children learn, therefore, by observing and making associations about their surroundings. Exposure to positive influences can favorably impact a child’s development, while exposure to toxic or stressful influences can negatively impact development.

All else being equal, a child’s cultural influences at birth are neutral. All too often, however, some elements of cultural background may not be accepted or understood by the society in which a child grows up — potentially harming a child’s self-image and development.

In other words, the social cues a young child takes in from others about cultural background can help or hamper development because developing children readily internalize what they see and hear. When a young child’s cultural background differs from the prevailing culture — for example, the child’s family might speak a different language at home, eat different foods, or observe different holidays — it can affect self-image. This is especially the case if peers or even teachers treat the child in a way that reveals bias or casts the child in the role of an outsider.

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), childhood exposure to dominant social biases — such as favoring people who are white, Christian, heterosexual, able-bodied, thin, wealthy, fluent in English, natives rather than immigrants — can trigger developing children to judge themselves unfavorably by the same limiting standards. When children do that, their development suffers.

Recognizing Cultural Influences on Child Development

Culture influences development from the moment we’re born, making an impact on us as we grow. For instance, culture can affect how children build values, language, belief systems, and an understanding of themselves as individuals and as members of society.

Children can receive these cultural influences in different ways, such as through their parents, their environment, and the media. How society shows an understanding of diverse cultures can impact a child’s development in many ways, such as how confident in themselves or how comfortable interacting with others they become as adults.

Parental Influences on Child Development

Parents’ culture can influence their children’s development. A 2019 study, for example, found that cultural values often influence the way parents raise their children, including how they discipline and set boundaries. It makes sense that parents raise their children based on cultural influences because they’re preparing them to develop behaviors necessary to operate and thrive in that culture. However, when the social environment and home culture clash, developmental issues can arise.

Collectivist vs. Individualistic Cultures and Parental Discipline

Parents’ cultural influences can impact how they discipline a child’s behavior. This, in turn, can affect a child’s development, particularly if those methods of discipline differ from the dominant cultural tradition.

Before delving into the methods of discipline and culture, what do the terms “collectivist” and “individualistic” mean exactly? Essentially, a collectivist culture values and rewards the prioritization of community needs over individual needs, as well as generous, kind, collaborative behavior. Collectivism is the norm in Asian, Central American, South American, and African cultures.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, an individualistic culture values and rewards assertiveness and independent action, stressing the importance of the individual over the group. Individualism dominates in North American and Western European cultures.

The 2019 study cited earlier found that parents from individualistic cultures discipline differently from parents from collectivist cultures. The former group of parents might discipline their children by taking something away that matters to them personally. On the other hand, parents from collectivist cultures might tell their children to think about how their behavior affects others.

The study found that children raised in individualistic cultures often described themselves based on their unique attributes, such as “I am good at math.” Meanwhile, children raised in collectivist cultures were more likely to describe themselves based on their relationships with others, such as “I am my mother’s daughter.”

Child development can be influenced if parents or teachers discipline children according to the dominant culture — the U.S. has an individualistic culture — rather than the culture of their family of origin. For example, children whose parents have disciplined them to value cooperation over competition might become confused or upset when a teacher urges them to be competitive.

Parental Influences on Children’s Social Behavior Varies by Culture

Children learn how to act by interacting with their parents. For this reason, the parents’ cultural background often influences a child’s behavior.

Communication style is a case in point. Children tend to communicate in a style that resembles their parents’ way of communicating, and diverse cultures converse and explain things in different ways.

Children who communicate based on an individualistic cultural model will often tell long, self-focused stories with themes of autonomy and personal preference. Conversely, children who communicate based on a collectivist cultural model will often tell brief, other-oriented stories with themes of authority and interrelationships.

These cultural influences on children’s language development can help or hinder them on the playground, and later in the workplace. If children’s culture is respected at school, including the way the children interact verbally with others, then they’ll be more likely to experience the acceptance and respect they need to grow and develop. They’re more likely to become adults with a healthy self-image who feel understood and capable of confident, fruitful interactions. If not, however, they may become adults who hesitate to raise their voices and be heard for fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood.

Environmental Influences on Child Development

Environmental influences on child development can include influences from community and culture as well as from environmental health hazards. Pollution from a nearby power plant, contaminated water, or lead in the home, for example, can cause lasting impacts on children’s health. As the CDC reports, environmental contaminants can cause greater harm to children than to adults because children’s bodies are still developing.

In fact, children take in more air, water, and food per pound of body weight, making them more vulnerable to health issues from environmental hazards. The health issues might not show up until later in life, causing difficulty in school, work, and socialization. A child exposed to polluted air, for example, might develop asthma as a teenager.

Children of low-income communities are most likely to be at risk of exposure to environmental hazards. As the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) reports, low-income communities may have poor infrastructure, making them more vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters, such as contaminated water and damaged drainage systems. They may also be located closer to factories and highways, both of which contribute to high levels of pollution in the air, soil, and water.

Media Influences on Child Development

Media influences on childhood development include movies, TV shows, video games, and other online content. Research that the American Psychological Association (APA) has shared shows that children’s exposure to violent media can result in aggressive behavior; exposure to advertising for non-nutritious foods can increase rates of childhood obesity; and too much screen time can be linked to lower brain development in preschoolers.

A study from the Cognitive Impacts of Digital Media Workgroup found that children begin to learn from TV programs at around 2.5 years old. Educational programs, such as “Sesame Street,” can positively influence their knowledge and social skills, preparing them for school. However, after they turn 6 years old, children begin to watch more entertainment programming, which can, in turn, influence their behavior negatively. In addition, while video games can help children develop visual processing skills, they can also yield aggressive behavior. The effects on cognitive skills and behaviors are often specific to the games played.

As a result of these findings, the study suggests that clinicians and early childhood service providers should work with parents to limit TV exposure before children turn 2 years old. As children begin to learn how to read, clinicians and service providers should advise parents to regulate children’s media consumption — with a focus on providing educational media content — and encourage reading habits.

The connection with cultural background is clear: Diverse cultures have different attitudes toward TV and other entertainment media, as well as different abilities to afford access to such media. A child from a collectivist culture, for example, may be encouraged to help infant or elderly family members in lieu of watching educational TV after school. Indirectly, culture influences these children’s ability to benefit from such experiences.

In addition, to take the example further, children whose culture discourages educational TV and other media may be ridiculed by school peers for missing out on popular pastimes other children engage in.

Another way that media in popular culture can influence child development is by depicting and perpetuating cultural stereotypes. For example, a movie might show women or minorities in a negative light, or not at all. A sitcom might feature only white characters, never those of diverse races or ethnicities.

Clearly, the absence of role models in entertainment media, or the presence of negative stereotypes, can affect children’s self-esteem. This can cause media to become a negative cultural influence on a child’s development.

A Crucial Understanding of Childhood Development

Educators, parents, caregivers, and social workers need to understand how children’s cultural influences affect their development. With this knowledge, adults can better guide students of different cultures and backgrounds through their growth processes and ensure that they’re being exposed to healthy influences. They can also provide them with the tools they need to cope with negative influences, such as cultural biases and prejudices against diverse cultures, in schools and in society at large.

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), for example, early childhood programs can foster children’s development — physically, mentally, and socially. Consider the Head Start program, which provides children from low-income families with services to promote their educational and emotional growth. Children who participated in programs such as Head Start grew up healthier and engaged in less harmful activities, such as drinking and smoking, than those who didn’t.

Educators and social workers need to be aware of their own implicit biases about cultural differences. As the NAEYC reported, teachers can exhibit biases in their treatment of children according to the child’s race, ability, socioeconomic status, and behaviors. The biases can inhibit teachers from effectively helping these students and, therefore, prevent students from developing at the pace that’s best for them. By understanding the cultural influences on child development, including their own cultural biases, professionals in these roles can better make an impact on children’s lives and deliver the care they need.

Careers That Incorporate Cultural Influences on Child Development

An understanding of cultural influences on child development is important for professionals in a range of roles.

Child Life Specialist

A child life specialist is clinically trained to help families work through the developmental impact of serious injury or illness. For example, a child life specialist might work with families to help children cope with illness or stress in a hospital setting. This work includes identifying stressors, encouraging self-expression, and ensuring that children can make their voices heard in often overwhelming situations.

Understanding how the healthcare system approaches cultural diversity helps child life specialists assist families from various cultural backgrounds. Further, a child life specialist understands that the trauma of illness or injury looms large in child development and thus seeks to mitigate the impact, while taking into account each child’s cultural background.

Mental Health Counselor

Mental health counselors treat people for issues such as behavioral disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, and stress. They might work in a range of settings, including individual and family services, community care centers, and government facilities. Mental health counselors can train to work specifically with children and families, helping them work through mental health issues, access necessary resources, and navigate treatment plans.

By understanding cultural influences on child development, mental health counselors can more effectively help children and families get to the root of their issues and work through them.

Community Health Worker

Community health workers help individuals and groups access healthcare information, resources, and services. For example, if a community is exposed to an environmental hazard, community health workers might connect people with screenings for lung cancer or asthma. Another example is if an impoverished community has difficulty accessing food, community health workers might connect the community to local services, such as food banks. These professionals also advocate on behalf of vulnerable communities, providing local government representatives, healthcare providers, and health educators with data about people’s health status and needs.

Community health workers learn about the factors that influence child development to help families access the healthcare resources they need. They also understand the influence of culture on how families and communities seek aid and respond to stress in crises.

Child Care Center Director

Child care center directors build and manage programs for before- and after-school care, including educational programs, and social activities. Directors also hire and train staff to run these programs and work with children. With an understanding of cultural influences on child development, child care center directors can be prepared to support children outside their home, resolve issues when they arise, and provide working families with the extra help they need in supervising their children.

Social Worker

Social workers assist individuals and families on a case-by-case basis, helping them navigate stressful situations, such as unemployment, illness, and substance abuse. On top of providing these services, clinical social workers are licensed to diagnose clients with mental health issues and intervene in emergencies, such as child abuse. Social workers understand how cultural influences can impact behavior and development.

Social workers can also train in specialty areas, including the following:

Child and family social work
- Example: Guiding children through the adoption process or the foster system, or locating community child care services
School social work
- Example: Helping students with behavioral issues find a therapist
Mental health social work
- Example: Connecting children who have anxiety or depression with a psychiatrist or support group
Healthcare social work
- Example: Supporting children through a diagnosis and hospital visits

All social workers are trained to be aware of the factors that influence people’s behavior, including their childhood development and how their culture may be influencing it. If a child is acting out at school, for example, a social worker considers how cultural influences at home might affect the child’s acceptance by peers at school or how the child responds to challenging school demands, such as competition or collaboration.

Make an Impact in Childhood Development

Maryville’s online Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies program offers students the knowledge and skills they need to work with families and children in different stages of their lives. Through the program’s comprehensive curriculum, students explore the human experience and how individuals develop in their societies and interpersonal relationships. They also gain real-world experience through fieldwork, research projects, and service-learning opportunities in a range of settings where they can begin making an impact in their roles.

If you’re interested in learning more about cultural influences on child development — including parental, environmental, and media influences on child development — exploring Maryville’s online Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies can help you pursue your professional goals.

Recommended Reading

Early Childhood Education vs. Childhood Development

Nature vs. Nurture Child Development: Exploring Key Differences

How to Become a Child Life Specialist

Sources

American Psychological Association, Kids & the Media

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child Development Basics

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Children’s Environmental Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Early Brain Development and Health

National Association for the Education of Young Children, The Social-Cultural Context of Child Development and Learning

National Environmental Health Association, Children’s Environmental Health Equity

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Early Childhood Development and Education

Pediatrics, Digital Screen Media and Cognitive Development

The Conversation, “How Culture Influences Children’s Development”

The Urban Child Institute, What Do We Know About Social and Emotional Development in Early Childhood?

The Washington Post, “How Different Cultures Shape Children’s Personalities in Different Ways”

Verywell Mind, “Experience and Development”

Verywell Mind, “Individualistic Cultures and Behavior”

Verywell Mind, “Understanding Collectivist Cultures”

U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Health Educators and Community Health Workers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Preschool and Childcare Center Directors

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Social Workers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Child Life Specialist”

Wiley Online Library, “Environmental Influences on Health and Development: Nutrition, Substance Exposure, and Adverse Childhood Experiences”

How culture influences children's development

From educational toys to governmental guidelines and detailed nursery progress reports, there are lots of resources available to help parents track and facilitate their children’s development. But while there are tricks we can use to teach children to talk, count, draw or respect others, a surprisingly big part of how they develop is determined by the culture they grow up in.

Child development is a dynamic, interactive process. Every child is unique in interacting with the world around them, and what they invoke and receive from others and the environment also shapes how they think and behave. Children growing up in different cultures receive specific inputs from their environment. For that reason, there’s a vast array of cultural differences in children’s beliefs and behaviour.

Language is one of the many ways through which culture affects development. We know from research on adults that languages forge how people think and reason. Moreover, the content and focus of what people talk about in their conversations also vary across cultures. As early as infancy, mothers from different cultures talk to their babies differently. German mothers tend to focus on their infants’ needs, wishes or them as a person. Mothers of the African tribal group Nso, on the other hand, focus more on social context. This can include the child’s interactions with other people and the rules surrounding it.

Masai children.

Syndromeda/Shutterock

This early exposure affects the way children attend to themselves or to their relationship with others – forming their self image and identity. For example, in Western European and North American countries, children tend to describe themselves around their unique characteristics – such as “I am smart” or “I am good at drawing”. In Asian, African, Southern European and South American countries, however, children describe themselves more often around their relationship with others and social roles. Examples of this include “I am my parents’ child” or “I am a good student”.

Because children in different cultures differ in how they think about themselves and relate to others, they also memorise events differently. For example, when preschoolers were asked to describe a recent special personal experience, European-American children provided more detailed descriptions, recalled more specific events and stressed their preferences, feelings and opinions about it more than Chinese and Korean children. The Asian children instead focused more on the people they had met and how they related to themselves.

Cultural effects of parenting

Parents in different cultures also play an important role in moulding children’s behaviour and thinking patterns. Typically, parents are the ones who prepare the children to interact with wider society. Children’s interaction with their parents often acts as the archetype of how to behave around others – learning a variety of socio-cultural rules, expectations and taboos. For example, young children typically develop a conversational style resembling their parents’ – and that often depends on culture.

European-American children frequently provide long, elaborative, self-focused narratives emphasising personal preferences and autonomy. Their interaction style also tends to be reciprocal, taking turns in talking. In contrast, Korean and Chinese children’s accounts are usually brief, relation-oriented, and show a great concern with authority. They often take a more passive role in the conversations. The same cultural variations in interaction are also evident when children talk with an independent interviewer.

Children in the Western world question their parents’ authority more. Gargonia/Shutterstock

Cultural differences in interactions between adults and children also influence how a child behaves socially. For instance, in Chinese culture, where parents assume much responsibility and authority over children, parents interact with children in a more authoritative manner and demand obedience from their children. Children growing up in such environments are more likely to comply with their parents’ requests, even when they are reluctant to do so.

By contrast, Chinese immigrant children growing up in England behave more similarly to English children, who are less likely to follow parental demands if unwilling.

From class to court

As the world is getting increasingly globalised, knowledge regarding cultural differences in children’s thinking, memory and how they interact with adults has important practical implications in many areas where you have to understand a child’s psychology. For instance, teachers may need to assess children who come from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Knowing how children coming from a different culture think and talk differently can help the teacher better interview them as part of an oral academic test, for example.

Another important area is forensic investigations. Being aware that Chinese children tend to recall details regarding other people and be brief in their initial response to questions may enable the investigator to allow more time for narrative practice to prepare the child to answer open-ended questions and prompt them with follow up questions.

Also, knowing that Chinese children may be more sensitive and compliant to authority figures – and more obedient to a perpetrator within the family – an interviewer may need to spend more time in building rapport to help the child relax and reduce their perceived authority. They should also be prepared to be patient with reluctance in disclosing abuse within families.

While children are unique and develop at their own pace, the cultural influence on their development is clearly considerable. It may even affect how quickly children reach different developmental milestones, but research on this complicated subject is still inconclusive. Importantly, knowledge about cultural differences can also help us pin down what all children have in common: an insatiable curiosity about the world and a love for the people around them.

Hormonal development of a child

Weight and height are the first things a mother learns about her child. While the baby is growing, parents often compare him with other children not only in terms of physical, but also in terms of intellectual data, and any discrepancy causes many questions and worries. It is no secret that the development of the child is affected by the level of hormones in the body. Elvira Domracheva, chief freelance pediatric endocrinologist of the Chelyabinsk region, head of the endocrinology department of the ChODKB, tells how to determine how harmoniously and correctly a child develops, and how to avoid complications of endocrine pathologies.

- Elvira Gennadievna, what deviations in the height and weight of a child can alert parents and give them a reason to contact an endocrinologist?
- An endocrinologist should be consulted if height and weight are above or below the average for a given age. When it comes to weight, the most common endocrine problem is overweight. When a child lags behind in weight without being stunted, this is most likely no longer an endocrine problem. But stunting is purely our disease. If the growth of a child is significantly below the lower age limit, then it is imperative to contact an endocrinologist and determine why the lag occurs. It can be constitutional features, or a lack of hormones.
- How often do endocrine growth and weight pathologies occur in children?
- Approximately 11.5 thousand young South Ural residents are registered with an endocrinologist. That is, the incidence of endocrine pathology in the Chelyabinsk region is approximately 38 patients per 100 thousand of the child population. Of these patients with obesity - about 25%. But here only serious forms of obesity are taken into account, which require the mandatory intervention of a specialist. There are few children with growth pathology - about 1.5% of all cases. And only 0.3% have a true deficiency of growth hormone, the treatment of which requires daily and expensive therapy. The main task facing the pediatric endocrinologist is to determine the real cause of the deficiency or excess of the height and weight of the child.
For example, in order to make a diagnosis of true growth hormone deficiency, two special stimulation tests with clonidine and insulin must be performed. That is, you need to force the body to release the maximum amount of growth hormone. For those children who produce an insufficient amount of the hormone, we prescribe replacement therapy. That is, drugs are used only for certain indications and with an accurate diagnosis.
- How can parents determine if their child's weight and height are appropriate?
- There are special charts for weight and height for boys and girls under 18 years of age. They can be found at every pediatrician and compared. Endocrinologists have special computer programs that take into account the date of birth of the patient, his gender, at what stage of pregnancy he was born, weight and height at birth, initial data of parents, height and weight today. With the help of these data, it is possible to predict the final growth of the child, to estimate the parameters of height and weight to date, and also to determine the growth rate.
- That is, parents should come to the pediatrician and check how harmoniously their child develops?
- This is how it should be done. After all, the main assistant to the endocrinologist is a pediatrician. He observes the baby from the first days of life and monitors the dynamics of the growth and weight of the child, which he necessarily notes in the outpatient card. For example, in the first year of life, the baby should grow by about 25 centimeters, in the second or third year - by 11-12 centimeters. Then the child must add at least five centimeters in height per year until the period of puberty. In adolescence, there is a sharp jump in growth. During this period, the growth dynamics should be greater. In general, thyroid hormones, directly growth hormone and sex hormones, affect the growth of a child.
- How much does the weight and height of a child depend on heredity? Can short parents have a tall child? Or have overweight parents - thin? Often full parents do not even try to put an overweight child on a diet or make his diet more rational, referring to the fact that it is useless with a genetic predisposition. Is this true?
- The dynamics of children's growth and weight development is determined by several components: hereditary factors, nutritional composition and environmental factors, hormonal levels. Of course, genetic factors are of great importance. As for weight, it is the food habits of the family that play a decisive role here.
If, in addition to constitutional factors, the family has an incorrect nutritional stereotype, that is, baked, sweet, fatty foods predominate, and at the same time physical activity is minimal, then naturally the child will be overweight. But if a child with a constitutional predisposition to be overweight is transferred to other conditions: organize proper nutrition, increase physical activity, then there will be no excess weight.
- That is, it is possible to fight even with the constitution?
- Yes. It is obvious that the normal weight and height of the child are possible only with normal feeding. But it is necessary to exclude endocrine pathology, because some forms of obesity occur as a result of some hormonal changes. But with any form of obesity, the main thing is proper nutrition. That is not a diet, but a balanced diet. Indeed, in the treatment of obesity in childhood, doctors are limited in the choice of drugs. Because almost all drugs that help get rid of excess weight are allowed only from the age of 18. In any case, there is no such magic pill that you can take and immediately lose weight. All medicines work on proper nutrition.
- How important is good nutrition for a healthy child? Can chips, soda, fast food so beloved by children lead to violations?
- There are a lot of preservatives and chemical additives in such food, which have a bad effect on all types of metabolism. As a result, fast food can destroy carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
- What other factors can provoke endocrine diseases in children?
- First of all, of course, heredity. Many endocrine processes depend on the special structure of the immune system, that is, many diseases are autoimmune. This is when killer cells appear in their own cells, as, for example, in diabetes.
But you can not discount the provoking factors. To provoke some kind of hereditary disease, you need a certain push or stress for the body. For example, frequent childhood infections can serve as such an impetus. Therefore, we recommend everyone to be vaccinated. Also from the first days of life there should be rational feeding. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid stress.
- Does the work of the thyroid gland affect the academic performance and mental development of a child?
- Of course it does. Thyroid hormones are responsible for intellectual development, along with other mechanisms. They are considered hormones of intelligence. Therefore, if a child has reduced thyroid function, then he will not do well in school.
- So, it can be said that if a child does not study well at school, then perhaps this is due to a lack of hormones, and not laziness or unwillingness to study?
- Possibly. But, of course, not all problems should be attributed to hormonal changes.
- If a child has a hereditary predisposition to thyroid disease, is it possible to take drugs for preventive purposes?
- Before prescribing something for prevention in case of hereditary predisposition, you first need to come to a consultation with an endocrinologist so that the doctor examines the initial function and structure of the thyroid gland, pass a minimum of tests and do an ultrasound scan. If there are no deviations, then iodine preparations can be taken as a prophylaxis.
- Even perfectly healthy children should take iodine?
- Yes. Or simply use iodized salt in the diet to prevent goiter. We live in an iodine-deficient region.
- Is iodine necessary for children from infancy?
- Yes. If the child is breastfed and the mother does not have thyroid dysfunction, then during pregnancy and the entire period of breastfeeding, the mother must receive iodine preparations (iodomarin, iodine balance). Moreover, the dose should be even more than recommended for adults. That is 200-250 micrograms of iodine daily. Then the baby will receive sufficient amounts of iodine through breast milk. If the baby is bottle-fed, then you need to clarify whether iodine is included in the mixture. And then, depending on the nature of feeding, decide whether the baby needs iodine preparations.
- How important is it for an expectant mother to monitor her hormone levels? Does this mean that with a lack of hormones in the mother during pregnancy, the child may subsequently lag behind in development?
- During pregnancy, not only the woman provides for the fetus, but part of the hormones are also taken from the fetus. Therefore, pregnancy must be planned. Before pregnancy, all expectant mothers need to examine the function of the thyroid gland. If it is broken, then you first need to restore this function, and then plan a pregnancy. During pregnancy, it is necessary to control the function of the thyroid gland, because the lack of hormones in the mother can adversely affect the child.
- If a woman has problems with the thyroid gland, then she will no longer be able to give birth to a healthy child?
- Maybe. It is only necessary to compensate for the function of the thyroid gland.
- In small towns of the Chelyabinsk region, endocrinologists rarely see patients. Can parents bring their child for a consultation from other localities to the CHODKB?
- Of course. We have a pediatric endocrinologist in the regional consultative polyclinic. There is a pre-registration, you can also sign up online or through your clinic. In Chelyabinsk, there are two endocrinological departments - in the CHODKB and the MUSIC Children's Clinical Hospital No. 8. Pediatric endocrinologists will also have a premium in Magnitogorsk - 3 specialists, in Miass - 2 specialists and one each in Zlatoust, Satka, Ozersk and Snezhinsk. There is a pediatric endocrinologist in every district of Chelyabinsk, seven more doctors work with children in the hospital.
- That is, can you name the exact number of pediatric endocrinologists in the region?
- A total of 27 endocrinologists see children in the Chelyabinsk region.
- Is that enough?
- The Russian norm is 1 pediatric endocrinologist per 20,000 children. In our country, this figure is 1 doctor per 30,000 children.
- Do people come to the regional hospital from those regions where there is no endocrinologist?
- Yes, they come to consult us. Adult endocrinologists also partially carry out children's appointments. Doctors dealing with adults are well aware of everything that is needed to treat childhood pathologies.
- Do endocrinologists check children for preventive purposes?
- Yes. At present, close cooperation has been established with the regional perinatal center, which allows, at the modern level, to timely identify and examine newborns with a positive screening examination for hypothyroidism, adrenogenital syndrome. Within the framework of the national project "Health" it is planned to conduct a mass examination of adolescents in the period of sexual development and preschoolers at the age of 6-7 years for thyroid pathology. Without timely treatment, some endocrine diseases in children lead to early disability of the child without the possibility of late rehabilitation. Last year endocrinologists examined 94 thousand 665 children in the region.
- How many diseases have been identified?
- Pathology is detected in 18-19% of those examined. Of course, in the first place is the pathology of the thyroid gland - 95%. The remaining 5% is stunted and overweight.

Olga Melchakova, Uralpress news agency.

The influence of color on the psyche of children, the psychology of color in a child

Surely you have noticed that if a child likes a certain color, he chooses it in everything. Clothes, toys, accessories, and even balloons or ice cream should be in your favorite color. And nothing can be done - such a period.

In fact, children are instinctively drawn to those colors that are most pleasing and useful to them at this stage of development. Scientists have proven that colors have the ability to have a powerful effect on the psyche. This is especially true for children, because the visual perception of the child helps him to know the world. Color can bypass the “barrier” from our consciousness and act on an unconscious level. This property is used in alternative medicine - color therapy.

How color affects the child's psyche

The action of color can calm or invigorate, cheer up and relieve tension. In addition, color can enhance brain activity, affect the intelligence and self-esteem of the baby. That is why it is worth taking seriously the choice of colors for a child's room or wardrobe. A well-chosen combination will stimulate the development of the child, create an atmosphere of harmony, and also contribute to the formation of good taste.

Each color has its own characteristics. What shades are most favorable for children? Let's figure it out.

WHITE

This color is considered neutral. By itself, it is not capable of evoking bright positive or negative emotions, but is a background for other shades. As a rule, children do not choose white as their favorite, but it is always present in clothes. An integral part of the wardrobe is stylish white T-shirts with inscriptions and drawings, classic shirts and blouses.

White is perfect for newborns, symbolizing tenderness and innocence.

As for the child's room, white is preferred for the ceiling and the top of the walls. Dark tones can cause a depressed state or even depression.

BLUE

Until recently, it was considered an exclusively male color. And to this day, passers-by, seeing a baby in blue, confidently say: “What a cute boy!”. Fortunately, modern manufacturers of children's clothing and interior items are moving away from stereotypes, successfully using different colors in collections for boys and girls.

Blue and all shades of blue are associated with the sea, the sky - something boundless, strong and peaceful. Contemplation of the blue color calms, reduces pressure and temperature, dulls pain. In addition, it is good for the eyes and has an awakening effect in the morning due to its "coolness". This color is considered a shade of courage and strength, well suited for decorating children's rooms.

GREEN

The variety of its shades is striking and pleasing to the eye: emerald, light green, olive and khaki. The color of nature and life itself. Associated with growth, development and prosperity.

The psychology of the green color is as follows: it helps to relax, calm down, arouse interest in understanding the world, pacifies nerves and blood pressure. If your child is already calm and balanced, then do not be zealous with green. Perhaps you should consider more "disturbing" shades.

PINK

Of course, we cannot ignore the favorite color of little princesses. If you have a daughter, you probably remember how, with her birth, pink objects slowly but surely began to fill the house. At first it was the first blanket and ribbon on the envelope for discharge from the hospital. Then bodysuits and sliders, rattles and bottles began to appear. Later - pink dresses, hair clips, bracelets and handbags.

When the baby moved to a separate room, she demanded pink wallpaper, a crib and a chest of drawers. No other options, of course, were considered. A similar period happens in the life of almost every girl. In part, we impose this stereotype ourselves. After all, everyone knows that boys are blue, and girls are pink.

Someone is afraid of pink madness, but excitement is unnecessary here. Firstly, the color itself has a beneficial effect on the emotional state of children. It calms, improves mood, encourages creativity. Secondly, there are many shades of pink: from cold and restrained to bright fuchsia. Dilute pink with neutral gray for a noble combination that is great for a child's room. And finally, love for this color, as a rule, passes with age.

RED

Perhaps the most exciting color. It burns like a flame or the sun at sunset, attracts attention and arouses interest. Red is able to cheer up even the most calm children. The color of leadership and energy. This color causes activity, mobility, appetite and interest in learning.

It has to be used carefully. Small bright accents in the interior or wardrobe are acceptable and even welcome. But prolonged contemplation of red can lead to excessive excitability, sleep disturbance and aggression.

YELLOW

No less bright than red, but at the same time it has a completely different effect on the human psyche. Yellow is associated with sunlight, fluffy chicken, fragrant lemon and a warm autumn day. It soothes, warms and uplifts the mood. This color is able to defeat depression and blues. It does not have an exciting effect, but gently stimulates.

Yellow items are great for children's interiors. This shade improves brain activity, promotes learning and the development of intuition, and also gives joy. Yellow is almost perfect, but overly excitable people should be careful with it.

ORANGE

Another juicy color that gives mood. It has the freshness of orange juice, the brightness of summer flowers and sunshine. Orange is the color of energy, expression, extraversion. He is impulsive and invigorating.

The action of the orange color stimulates the child's communication skills, knowledge of the world, as well as appetite. If the baby is shy and not very active, orange can help. Add brightness to the interior or wardrobe, and the effect will not keep you waiting. In addition, orange ensures the healthy functioning of all body systems, and also strengthens psycho-emotional stability. An indispensable color for children's environment.

PURPLE

Imagination draws lilac and lavender, delicate violets and shades of sunset. Deep and even intelligent color. It is a symbol of spiritual development and enlightenment.

The use of purple in the interior of the room has a beneficial effect on the psyche of the child. Gives a feeling of peace, enhances empathy and intuition. The strength of this color is in harmony. Purple is liked by both girls and boys, so feel free to make a choice in its favor.

TURQUOISE

This shade gives us the sea, a bright sky on a sunny day, jewelry with turquoise. Pleasant to the eye, refreshing, invigorating.

This color promotes creativity and self-expression, calms, but at the same time gently stimulates to action. The use of turquoise color is possible both in the wardrobe of boys and girls. Great for a child's room, uplifting and relaxing.

GRAY

At first glance, it may seem bleak and dull. We call gray a rainy day, clouds in the autumn sky or a bad mood. In fact, the effect of gray on a person is very beneficial. It instills confidence, reassures. Gray perfectly dilutes brighter colors in the interior or wardrobe.

Does your daughter like lots of pink? Add discreet gray to it and get a noble combination. This color harmoniously looks with many rich shades, calming them. Do not be afraid of gray, but it is not advisable to overdo it.

HOW TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COLORS

As you can see, having studied the psychology of color, you can carefully influence the psyche and mood of the child. Some shades soothe and relax, others invigorate and give strength. When choosing a color, be guided by the temperament and character of the children, and also take into account their biorhythms and condition at a particular point in time.