Reasons for difference rates of child development

There are many factors that take a toll on child development,mainly environment and enhancing and inhibiting factors.

Environment-

Environmental factors have a big impact on our society. They have the ability to enhance or inhibit the development of a young child. Unlike biological or genetic factors, in many cases we have control over the environmental factors which our children are exposed to.
Some exceptions to this control may include a child born into an environment affected by:

• Widespread poverty.
• Poor health care system.
• Dysfuncional family environment.

Environment factors can be:

• Physical- Land, air, water, plants, animals, building and other infrastructure.
• Social- Living and working conditions, income level, educaional background and communities we are a part of.
• Cultural- Government policies, cultural practices, traditions.

Enhancing or Inhibiting-

The decisions a parent or caregiver make play a vital role in creating an environment in which a child lives. A young child is totally dependent on the significant adults in their lives to make important decisions for them - these choices have the ability to enhance or inhibit the child's growth and development.

There are some factors which have a negatove impact on a child'sdevelopment - they slow or inhibit the child's growth and learning. They may be significant, e.g. no health care faciliies or less significant, e.g. no parks in the area in which the family lives.


There are factors which have a positive impact on a child's development  - they speed up or enhance the child's growth and learning, e.g. a house with good heating or plenty of early childhood education facilities in the area.

When we consider the effect of the environment on a child's development it is important to consider three other factors which impact on learning and growth.

-Availability- Does the child have access to resources within it's community?
Resources can include facilities and items such as libraries, books, play groups, early childhood education centres, toy libraries and people such as babysitters, Plunket Nurses, support groups, etc. Generally, a difficulty accessing these types of resources will impact negatively on a child's development.

-Richness- Are the resources available of good quality?
Good quality does not necessarily mean expensive. A good quality resource will provide opportunities for growth and learning. Richness can refer to the quality and appropriateness of: housing, early childhood education, books, medical facilities, etc. Generally, accessibily to resources of good quality enhance the growth and learning of a child.

-Change- How do changes to resources or relationships affect a child?
Examples of changes include: a new sibling, moving to a new childcare setting, moving house, divorce of parents, death in the family, etc. Changes can inhibit and enhance the development of a child.