What are the influential factors the affects the mental development of a child?

Mental development is the prime factor for the entire developmental aspect. It refers to the capacity of an individual to adjust in the environment by utilizing his reasoning, thinking, understanding and intelligence. One’s mental faculty is primarily influenced by number of factors. These are given below.

1. Influence of the family:

The child’s education begins at home. It is within the family that the development of his mental ability starts.

Hence, if the family possesses a favorable intellectual atmosphere, the mental development of the child is speeded.

In infancy, the child imitates his parents. At atmosphere of self-dependence in the family makes a child self-sufficient and self-reliant, his mental faculties develop properly. Parents should make their best efforts to satisfy the inquisitiveness of their children and should pursue the child to think for himself.

For full mental development, it is necessary that relationship between parents and other family relation should be full of love and affection.

2. Influence of neighborhood:

The child imitates social environment beyond family’s neighborhood. As the child grows, he becomes a member of the group of children in their neighborhood. These friends influence on the mental development of the child. Attention must pay to the activities of this group.

3. Influence of school environment:

The most important influence to which the child is exposed is the school. In this connection the following facts are worth noting:

(a) Teacher’s behavior:

Parents are the family and teacher in the school influence the personality of the child. If the teacher himself has a mental horizon and treats his young students with love and affection, a child will be able to develop his mind in a free atmosphere.

(b) Method of teaching:

A proper method of teaching will help to develop a healthy and comprehensive outlook whereas faulty methods of teaching hinder the mental development of a child. The teacher should aim at making the student to think and understand for himself rather than learning by memorization.

(c) Curriculum:

A curriculum should be according to the age, ability, capacity and interest of the child. Moreover, the curriculum should not be mechanical and uninteresting to the child. Curriculum should be lively and full of activities.

(d) Extracurricular activities:

For complete mental development of a child, the extracurricular activities are very important. For the school students such extracurricular activities like debate, picnics, excursion to important places, gardening, N.C.C., dancing, music, painting, etc. should be regularly performed. Such programmes have direct bearing on the mental development of the child.

(e) Administration and discipline:

For proper mental development of the children, it is essential that the school in which they study should be properly administered. Teachers should advise to maintain proper discipline through love, affection and sympathy rather than physical punishment.

4. Influence of cultural environment:

The child is influenced by the cultural environment whether he is at school, in his neighborhood or at home. The cultural environment is made up of ideas, ideals, objectives and values. Mental development is healthy and comprehensive if these elements are themselves valuable.