Parenting tips: Caregiver actions and their impact on childhood development

From emotional coldness to neglect and abuse, here are a few ways by which the actions of caregivers can impact the child.

The way a parent treats a child shows up in their adult behavior patterns as well. "How we were raised does have so much to do with how we show up in our relationships in adulthood. Though it might not contribute to everything, sometimes it accounts for a lot. Because of how our parents respond to our bid for our needs, it might go on to influence how we approach our relationship," wrote Therapist Benjamin Ekorhi. The Therapist further explained the actions shown by caregivers and how each of them can impact childhood development in different ways.

Parenting tips: Caregiver actions and their impact on childhood development (Shutterstock)

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Neglect and abuse: When a child is brought up through neglect and abuse of their needs and wants, they start to internalise their needs thinking that they are not important enough to be expressed. In later stages of life, this also impacts their attachment styles, making them shut down emotionally.

Emotional coldness and rejection: often caregivers respond to the needs of the child with rejection and coldness – when this continues over a prolonged period of time, the child starts to see their own need as burdens. Hence, they turn to themselves for emotional regulation.

Hostile and threatening responses: This type of reaction from the caregiver can make the child adapt to a deactivating attachment strategy and make them fear vulnerability. This often makes them shut down emotionally as a survival mechanism.

Discouraging expression of vulnerability: When a caregiver starts to discourage and disrespect vulnerability shown by the child, the child starts to become more self-sufficient and independent in order to not become vulnerable in front of others.

Encouraging self-reliance and independence: It is important to teach a child to become self-reliant and independent – however, when a parent pushes them constantly, they start to adapt to a deactivating attachment style where they start to believe that asking for help is unnecessary.