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Katie Dwyer
EDF 616-231
Human Development
January 21, 2016

Genetic and Environment Shape Human Growth

Human growth and development are basic concepts that are universally the same. Some
factors that can affect both are genetics and the environment. We all go through the same stages
of development, but at different rates. A child can accomplish a certain event at 6 months while
another might struggle until it clicks at 8 months of age. Genetics is a term used to describe the
genes in which you are born with. They are transferred to a child by the mother and father.
Environment deals with the area which a child is raised in such as the community, house,
country, or state. A person raised in Africa will be raised in a different social and economic area
then someone in the United States. They might have different values, education, or living
standards, which will affect the growth of that child. All of these can shape how a child develops
into an adult. The major question, that will probably never really truly be answered, is Nature vs.
Nurture. Which has a more lasting effect on a child the genetics that are given to them or the
social environment in which they are raised?
As stated above Genetics deals with the issue of the genes we are born with that are
passed from our parents. The main question is do our genetics determine who we are or do we
have enough free will to be different? If you look into a childs face you will always find a hint
of the mother or father. An example would be if one girl was tall and skinny while the other is
short and chunky could be from their parents genetics (N. Boyd 2015). Genes can be a

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contributing factor in many way of how someone develops. A child could receive a gene that can
be debilitating when it comes to developing mentally or physically. This can be a life changing
instance and will have a huge impact on the child.
Environment is the outside forces that surround a human, while they are developing. This
can be the community, school, family, and even the home life of the child. This plays a huge part
in human development. For instance, a child that was born addicted to heroin has a harder time
developing then another child. I have watched a first grader that can be sweet, but then can have
a mood swing like the Hulk. If this child would have been born to a non-addicted mother then
she wouldnt have these issues. It is a part of her home life and her environment. Some theorists,
known as Behaviorism, believe that no matter the genes you are born with you can change a
persons behavior by conditioning them (Cherry 2015), The community and home in which we
live greatly effect who we are as a person. It can greatly impact how a child will learn, react,
socialize, and grow to the next stage.
As a result, of this I think you need to look at both aspects of genetics and environment
for human development. They are both very important to the development of a child and will
create who that child will be as an adult. I know that if I would have been raised in Virginia, like
my brother, I would have a very different outcome in the life in which I live now. This
philosophy of nature vs. nurture will always be a debate. There is no way to ethically prove it. In
the end, it does matter how we are raised in a certain environment and the genetics that are
passed down to use. Our parents can pass down a gene with a certain characteristic or even a
disease. The main fact is that environment and genetics are two factors that shape humane
growth and development. They are both a universal issue for child growth and development.

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Schools Influence on Children

A child spends majority of their time growing up in the school system. For almost eight
hours a day and five days a week from August to May children are in school. They learn how to
write, read, history, math, and even how to socialize with their peers. School shapes a childs
physical, intellectual, and social development. A teacher will create activities and lessons so that
the child will learn a new skill and will improve their own development. Some lessons you learn
in school will follow you forever. You might always remember about tectonic plates in science
because you did a science project, in class, using and orange, toothpicks, and chocolate. School
is based on children learning the basic foundation to be a functioning and socially aware adult.
We teach skills that will help a child develop not only mentally, but physically as well.
The first thing a child is taught are the foundations of reading and writing. They learn
how to write and the ABCs, which help a child, develop intellectually. These basic concepts are
life skills that these students will need to succeed in the future. You must learn the fundamentals
to be successful. Teachers use lessons and activities to help students develop the skills they need
to be intellectually on the same level. As teachers, we all strive for each student to understand the
lesson in which we are teaching them. We come up with fun lessons that will broaden the minds
of the young and help them move on to the next grade level. If a child is lacking in a skill such as
reading then they are sent to a reading interventionist. This teacher will help the student work on
the needed skills to read. Its a great way to help that child succeed.
One major lesson that every student has been involved in is a group project. This allows
students the social interaction that is needed. Group projects teach children to work with one
other to accomplish a certain academic goal. They learn how to act and what behavior is
acceptable. They also learn from their own peers and even at the earliest stages want to make

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friends. You can watch preschoolers and realize they are already showing how they understand
some social interactions. Such as taking a toy, pushing a student, or saying harsh words can be
looked at as being a mean person. They learn to share and make friends with the other
classmates. The intensity of interaction and judgment within of peers within the school setting
heightens the potential impact on human development during the crucial adolescent year (Muller
2015 p3). This refers to how much time children spend with their peers in school. You will most
likely be with the same basic group of kids from Kindergarten to 12th grade. This sets the
foundation for how you will deal with your peers socially.
The last aspect is physical development which can be accomplished with lessons
or activities in both PE and school sponsored sports. The physical aspect would mostly be found
in the gym or for some schools the lunch room. A child might learn to throw a ball and catch it.
These are all motor skills that will help them development mentally too. Youth sports have been
known to help the development of motor, cognitive, and social skills(Birrer 2016,p.137). This
shows that having sports or PE in school allows students to not only improve physically, but
socially too. The lessons students learn in a PE course help them develop and increase strength.
In the USA, students are losing opportunities to have PE courses because of funding. Plus,
students are staying in front of the screen instead of doing physical activity.
As a result, of a child spending so much time in school they learn from the lessons and
activity we teach them. All the lessons will have some sort of effect on the childs development
on their social, intellectual, and physical aspects. Students learn from doing activities in and
outside of the classroom. They learn from their teachers everyday not just in the classroom, but
in how they act as a person. Students can learn kindness, understanding, and patience from some
of their teachers. That is a lesson worth teaching to every child.

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References

Birrer, R. B., O'Connor, F. G., & Kane, S. F. (2016). Musculoskeletal and sports medicine for the
primary care practitioner. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

Boyd, N. (2015). How Genetics and the Environment Interact in Human Development. Retrieved
January 21, 2016, from http://study.com/academy/lesson/how-genetics-and-theenvironment-interact-in-human-development.html.

Cherry, K. (2015, December 15). The Age Old Debate of Nature Versus Nurture. Retrieved
January 21, 2016, from http://psychology.about.com/od/nindex/g/nature-nurture.htm .

Muller, C. 2015. The Role of School-Related Peers and Social Networks in Human
Development. Emerging Trends in the Social and Behavioral Sciences: An
Interdisciplinary, Searchable, and Linkable Resource. 111.