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For decades in the United States, there were conflicting theories about the best way to raise children. By the early 1900s, mothers were convinced that mothers should not be too attached to their parents' approval of Dr. Spock. Parents want to optimize their "nests", knowing that physical elements such as shelter and psychological elements such as emotional support affect the development of the child.
Professor of psychology at the University of Notre Dame, Darcia Narvaez is specialized in this type of research and studies the evolved nest (or niche of advanced development, EDN).
The components of EDN include badfeeding for two to five years, an almost constant touch, responsiveness to the baby's needs, multiple sensitive adult caregivers, a free play with multiple playmates and social support positive for mother and baby. EDN can also involve a soothing perinatal experience (before, during and after birth) and a positive and welcoming social climate. "All these elements are characteristic of the type of environment in which the human race has lived 99% of its existence," said Narvaez.
An article published by Narvaez and his colleagues in the Notre Dame family life project Sage Open highlights the fact that taking a snapshot of the experience of a young child for a week, as reported by a parent, can predict the child's outcome. The measure – the NDA – has been tested in three countries: the United States, Switzerland and China. Parents of children aged 3 to 5 indicated how many self-directed games, family life, affection and (lack of) corporal punishment were inflicted on the child during a week. They also completed validated measures of social and moral development of the child and mental health.
"Today, American culture does not provide much of the evolved nest, so we should not be surprised that we have a lot of health problems, egocentrism and opposition", Narvaez said. "The neurobiology and social abilities of a person are founded in the first months and years of life.We must remember that babies are like fetuses up to the age of 18 months and therefore need an external experience of the uterus to develop properly.It is important to maximize the potential and the human capacities.so that humanity can solve the crises to which We are faced with the weak human capacity development that has contributed to these crises, we have forgotten what we are capable of in a positive way. "
In the recent study, three sets of results were examined: the socialization of children (eg, self-control, empathy), child maladjustment (eg distrust, inappropriate behavior) and social development (eg, joy in interpersonal relationships). Other factors such as age of parents, income, education and responsiveness were monitored while checking whether the instant report had influenced children's outcomes beyond other factors. In all three countries, social prosperity was predicted by the snapshot of the evolved nest. In the United States, all sets of results were significantly predicted by the number of self-directed games, family activities, affection, and lack of punishment that the child would have been victimized in the past. past week.
The study shows that a quick snapshot, a short six-element measurement, can be used to badess how many children live in the nest, and it worked to badess the welfare of three countries . With evidence of its effectiveness, the measure can be used by health workers and the parents themselves. The next step for Narvaez and her colleagues is to use it longitudinally with the same families to see how this affects children's long-term wellness habits. Narvaez also develops self-badessments of nesting for children, adolescents and adults.
"Our work focuses on optimizing development – which helps people flourish and thrive, not just survive," said Narvaez. "The well-being of children is often described by others as a minimal set of provisions such as nutrition or the absence of trauma.These outbreaks are simply not sufficient and reflect the downward shift. basic criteria for acceptable education, children's health, adult health and culture, practices. "
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