Early relationships in life like childhood friendships are very crucial as they help mold and develop our adult character, a new study finds.
There's a reason why people say that a person's upbringing largely influences the adult he turns out to be. It is believed that the relationships people have in their childhood are very crucial as they help mold and develop their adult character.
"As human beings, we are social creatures at every developmental stage, from infancy to adulthood. Each stage has different goals to be achieved and mastered, with respect to social and moral development, and each is important towards contributing to how well one functions as an adult," said Dr. Theodote K. Pontikes, lead author of the study, in a press statement.
The study authors pointed out that learning to value other people begins in infancy through early interactions with parents, other primary caregivers and family members. As a child grows and explores the world outside the home and interacts with peers, he or she begins to understand social mores.
"By interacting with their peers, children begin to learn about perspective-taking, where they can realize how others may have different thoughts and feelings. This process facilitates learning to problem-solve and to develop critical thinking skills, while practicing how to respond respectfully in the context of disagreements when interpersonal tensions arise. These are situations one encounters throughout life, and children need a strong grounding to know how to respond," Pontikes said.
Such relationships also provide children with a better understanding of companionship, social comparison, time management, affection and empathy. Researchers said that parents can help children develop strong and healthy relationships in their early years by holding supervised play dates and modeling healthy friendships with the parents of their children's friends.
"Parents need to ask their children about their day, their experiences and their feelings. Children need to feel safe that they can be open and honest with their parents about their joys, struggles and concerns," Pontikes said. "When a child seems isolative and doesn't express an interest in being with others, it can be beneficial to consult a specialist to rule out depression and other conditions. This also provides children and parents the opportunity to find appropriate guidance, so as to optimize a child's potential."
