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Alan D. Sleater
PSY-1100-009
9/16/2015
John M. Seaman
The Future of the Children
Congratulations class of 2010. We made it. Everyone here made the climb, and
graduated. Some of us will become famous scientists, astronauts, engineers, computer wizards,
world leaders, and more. And it is thanks to our parents that helped push us here, beyond limits
that we would have never made without them. Thanks Mom and Dad, for not letting us go by the
wayside. And to this, we congratulate you for becoming true parents. A lot of time at High
School Graduation ceremonies, College Graduation ceremonies, or even the Tony Awards,
parents have ben commended for their outstanding work they have done, by helping their
children be where they are today. But did you know that a lot of this was done when their
children were young, even infants? Parents have allowed nature to take their course in being the
overseers of their children. In this day and age, parents guide their children in a world that
demands independence and perfection. During the first moments in life you hold the future in
your arms of a new born child. Despite all they have done, there will never be enough time to
teach. Wherever children are born they continue the legacy of their familys future. Nurturing a
childs nature, when infants and toddlers, can increase their success and socioeconomic status
(SES) for life.
Parents have allowed nature to take its course in being the overseers of their children.
Studies of parenting try to predict the outcome of children, whether it is in their genes or their

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community. Is development of the individual better accounted for by the unfolding of
genetically and biologically based characteristics (nature) or is development largely shaped by
our experience (nurture) (1 Seaman, 10)? This debate has been going on for decades. To solve
this conundrum we need to understand what nature and nurture are. Nature: A general term for
the traits, capacities, and limitations that each individual inherits genetically from his or her
parents at the moment of conception (Burger, 5). By this definition we understand that every
person, and child, have characteristics specialized to their heredity. This development ranges
from sex type, hair color, genetic disorders, and ethnicity. These differences are things parents
can teach their children about, to help them know who they are.
In this day and age, parents guide their children in a world that demands independence
and perfection. No matter what a parent teaches their child, the child will find out what the world
teaches. It influences our likes, dislikes, and beliefs. Children are thus influenced by nurture. A
general term for all the environmental influences that affect development after an individual is
conceived (Burger, 5). Our DNA can predict a lot of things about our future, but we live in a
world that changes all the time. Our parents decide how their children will be exposed to things
of the world. There are two main cultures that depict on how people will grow up to be.
Individualist Culture: Values the rights and accomplishments of the individual. And,
Collectivist Culture: Values the rights and accomplishments of the group. (1 Seaman, 25). In
these cultures children are guided into who they will be and what they will do.
During the first moments in life parents hold the future in their arms as a new born child.
They watch as their child grows and develops throughout life. Some families leave social and
language learning until later in a childs infancy. Surprisingly babies and infants are learning just
the same as you and I, with our brains. The infant brain actually contains billions of neurons,

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each with one axon and many dendrites (Burger, 94). With these neurons, they make dendritic
connections, between each axon to send a message. As a child continues to practice using their
skills, more dendritic connections will be formed improving motor functions, social skills, and
language skills. Unfortunately the opposite is true. Under-stimulation of the infant can lead to
retarded physical, cognitive and social-emotional growth (2 Seaman, 14). When parenting a
child it is important to let a child learn when they are young.
Despite all they have done, there will never be enough time to teach. One of the most
exciting time of a parent is when their child emerges from an infant to a toddler. They are able to
say words and sentences, walk even run, and share their emotions with their parents. The best
way children learn at this age is through their attachment. Attachment: An enduring emotional
bond between infant and care giver that affects development and is manifested by proximity
seeking and contact maintaining behaviors (3 Seaman, 29). Learning can be a difficult time for
toddlers. A childs attachment with their parents can determine how well they adapt to learning
new things. In further studies behaviorists recognized that infants behavior also has an element
of social learning, through witch infants learn from the people around them (Burger, 151). And
these groups of people are ones that they can build a healthy attachment to. By making friends
and playing with toys, there is never a time without learning.
Wherever children are born they continue the legacy of their familys future. With every
new generation there is hope for the future. And a chance to change our socioeconomic status,
SES. A persons position in society as determined by income, wealth, occupation, education, and
place of residence (Burger, 11). A lot of familys forefathers, and mothers, traveled to America
in hopes of a better place to live without persecution. Today this problem still arises. Not all
hardships are where you live, but what you know, and what you can do. The higher SES status

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that parents try to have in parenting, will help their children escape some of the pitfalls that their
parents did not. An individual can be strong on one component and week on another.
Negative correlation between childhood SES and later contact with criminal justice system,
SES and longevity, Seems to have a huge impact on development and particularly educational
achievement (1 Seaman, 16). That is why it is hard to change your SES status sometimes,
because everything you do, and not do will become an influence on your future. When parents
start guiding their children at a young age, the family is able to surpass the families or cultural
generational trend.
Going through a psychology class has been a real eye opener for me. I never knew how
fun and applicable it would be in everyones lives, including mine. I chose to study and go more
into depth about the start of SES status for this paper. SES, socioeconomic status, was one of the
topics that I just brushed by on class when I heard it, thinking there is no way that everyone
could change where they stand. But as ironically as it was, the class mentioned it every day, and
how someone could change their status for better or worse. This got me thinking, where in my
life could I share this knowledge so that the listener would not brush it off just like me, until they
took the class? And it occurred to me, kids! Kids are just like sponges, you say something to
them when they are young, and 40 years later they are saying the same thing to their kids. So in
doing so, I focused on the early development of SES status, and who was in charge of it until the
child was.
Reflecting back on my life experiences I understood why life as a child in my living
situation was hard. Growing up both my parents did not have jobs, so we got help from the
government to pay for food, clothes, school, doctor bills, and daily medication for my parents.
Now that I am older, I wonder, how did we ever make it? Fortunately, I was able to get out of the

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fanatical hole that I grew up in, understanding the importance of sacrifice and self-determination
required to live a middle class, or upper class life. Right now I am going to collage to further my
education, and with each class I learn more about the world and how to improve my SES status.
As parents follow the flow of nature, they become the overseers of their children. Parents
guide their children in a world that is demands their attention of independence and perfection.
Parents of a new born child hold the future within their arms. With not enough time to teach,
parents entrust core values within their children. The legacy of the families future becomes lead
with the children of each generation. Nurturing a childs nature, when infants and toddlers, can
increase their success and socioeconomic status for life.

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Works Cited
Berger, Kathleen. Invitation to The Life Span. Second Edition. New York. 2014. Print.
Seaman, John. 8 Middle Childhood-Psychosocial Development. 18 Aug 2015. 48pgs.
slcc.instructure.com. Web. 10 Nov 2015.
1 Seaman, John. 1 The Science of Human Development. 62 pgs. slcc.instructure.com Web. 28
Nov 2015.
2 Seaman, John. 3 The First Two Years Body and Mind. 18 Aug 2015. 69 pgs.
slcc.instructure.com Web. 28 Nov 2015.
3 Seaman, John. 4 The First Two Years Psychosocial Development. 18 Aug 2015. 47 pgs.
slcc.instructure.com Web. 28 Nov 2015.