The Early Years: What Will Children Remember?

Consider your first memories and at what age they appear. Some remember very little about Kindergarten. Others will have a few memories from age four, and even fewer adults have any clear memories before that age. This seems obvious to most parents, but the influence of this perspective is less clear and leads to myths about development. So much so that some adults will say, “They won’t remember,” when considering certain choices, commitments, exposure to content or environments during a child’s first few years of life. It turns out, “What will children remember?” is the wrong question. How children remember offers the keys to development in the early years. So much is happening in the first three years of a child’s life and sets the foundation for every aspect of development. Memories are stored in emotional and sensory form and lay the groundwork for a sense of self, of relationships, and how the world works.  A secure attachment is vital to this process, as the current of connection between child and caregiver creates connections in the developing mind. This attachment provides the home base of security that enables a child to feel secure, and to explore and learn. A child secure in this home base can hold their caretaker in mind as they manage the emotions and natural stress of learning and exploring. Note that a child will have specific attachment relationships with each of their caregivers. Attachment theory is grounded in decades of research and the infl...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Communication Memory and Perception Attachment Child Development childhood Nonverbal communication Source Type: blogs