Every parent has had this thought cross their mind at least once – I wonder what my child will grow up to be. In fact, it’s an inevitable thought when raising a tiny human. Hoping your child will grow up with similar values as yours, expecting your child to be a good person or even just wanting your child to be a good role model to his/her child are just a few of the things every parent wishes for. As a parent, it’s only natural to want the best for your kids not just during their childhood but also in their later years of adulthood.
These later years of adulthood, however, are largely shaped by the early years of a child’s life. Most of what the child goes on to become can be traced back to experiences and bonds from the first five years of life. Research proves that the early years are the foundation for a child’s development, providing a concrete base for learning capabilities, cognitive and social development.
One of the leading studies done on this subject was done by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. The programme was launched by the Duchess of Cambridge to spread awareness on the impact of the early years. The Centre is actively working on commissioning research to increase knowledge on this matter, collaborating with private and public sectors as well as creating campaigns to further drive awareness.
Parenting, even though one of the most rewarding experiences of a person’s life, can be – let’s be honest – extremely overwhelming from time to time. Parents require support constantly in various forms and one such form was the initiative was The 5 Big Insights Survey.
This survey was conducted to better understand parents views’ on raising the next generation and setting a guideline to do so whilst maintaining their own well-being. The following is what the survey revealed –
Parents recognize that they play a key role in their child’s development.
The early years of a child’s life are largely shaped by primary caregivers. Children learn by seeing more than hearing so conducting oneself in a particular manner plays a substantial role during this period. What resonates the most with a growing child is to practice before you preach.
Parents tend to underestimate the importance of early years.
Contrary to popular belief, children pick up on behavioural and social patterns from a very young age. Children are impressionable during their early years and can differentiate right from wrong based quite easily. It is these early years that groom a child’s cognitive and social development in the later years of adulthood.
Parents find it difficult to prioritise their own well being.
A happy parent equals a happy child. It is of utmost importance that parents concentrate on self-care while raising children. Parents have to focus on themselves as much as their little ones to ensure an environment of constant positive parenting and encouragement.
Feelings of judgement have a huge impact on both parents as well as children.
As a new parent, it becomes easy to slip into feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. Comparison to other parents tends to add to these feelings, making parents easily susceptible to judgement. These feelings of inadequacy not only add a lot more to a parents plate but also consequently affects overall parenting style.
The role of wider society and primary schools.
After the age of 3-4 years, children spend as much time, if not more, around teachers and peers as much as they do at home around parents and siblings. Their thought process is bound to be affected by their environment. Building a safe, constructive surrounding for a child to spend time in is of extreme significance and this is exactly what nurseries and preschools need to focus on.
Additionally, the survey also tackled issues of parental and child loneliness brought on by the pandemic. Being cut off by friends and family has definitely added to the pressure of parenting and has made raising effective awareness on the matter all the more important.
Nurturey PinkBook’s take on Early Development
Nurturey believes that parenting begins right from the time of conception. Nurturey is a PinkBook that eases a parent into the pregnancy and parenting journey to ensure the best possible start for your little one.
Aimed at parents with young children and pregnant women, Nurturey’s intuitive tools help you navigate the journey of your child’s health and your pregnancy while feeling supported, informed and empowered.
Currently in the UK, every parent is handed the NHS red paper book at the time of child’s birth. This book maintains health records such as height, weight, vaccinations and development reviews. Nurturey PinkBook is a smart digital upgrade for the same.
Some of our prominent features include being able to access your child’s and your health records anywhere and anytime, book appointments and communicate with your GP via messages, get reminders about upcoming health events as well as receive trusted parental guidance directly from the NHS, helping you make informed decisions throughout your early parenting journey.
It is believed that the start of a child’s life determines everything that comes much later in life. Childhood experiences and interactions have a major role in building a child’s character and personality. This in turn impacts our society at large which makes it the need of the hour to provide top notch support to parents on this journey.
And Nurturey PinkBook aims to be as top-notch as it can get. It’s like red, only better!
