When can parents most influence their child's development? Expert knowledge and perceived local realities
Carol M Worthman1, Mark Tomlinson2, Mary Jane Rotheram-Borus3
1Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|March 7, 2016
Summary
Caregivers believe adolescence, not early childhood, is the key period for parental influence on child development. This perspective highlights the need to address adolescent risks and support sustained development beyond the first 1000 days.
Area of Science:
- Child Development Studies
- Global Health Policy
- Sociology
Background:
- Global health initiatives increasingly focus on the "first 1000 days" (gestation to age two) due to evidence of long-term impacts.
- This focus may oversimplify parental and community perceptions of critical developmental periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate caregivers' beliefs about the period of greatest parental influence on child development.
- To understand the rationale behind these beliefs in a specific cultural context.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 38 township-dwelling caregivers in Cape Town.
- Formal cultural consensus analysis of caregiver responses to a direct question about optimal influence age.
- Follow-up focus groups and structured interviews to explore reasoning.
Main Results:
- Strong consensus among caregivers that adolescence (median age 12 years) is the period of greatest parental impact.
- Caregivers cited significant adolescent risks (e.g., early pregnancy, substance abuse, violence) threatening long-term well-being.
- Early childhood development was perceived as more manageable compared to adolescent challenges.
Conclusions:
- Parental views on developmental influence may differ from the "first 1000 days" focus.
- Interventions should consider multiple sensitive developmental periods, including adolescence.
- Consulting local perspectives on developmental risks and parenting is crucial for effective interventions.
Keywords:
AdolescenceBiological embeddingEarly child developmentEthnopediatricsFamily programsFirst 1000 daysParentingSouth AfricaMore Related Videos
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