What does your house tell your child about you and the world?
One of the first external environments introduced to a child is his birth home. The house in which a child spends his first six years of life plays a pivotal role in his physical, mental and emotional development, either positively or negatively.
You must understand that a child’s perception of how the world operates is directly related to how he perceives the operation of his home. He takes in impressions from the structure, order and temperament(s) he notices around his birth home, absorbs them into his subconscious mind and then tries to draw connections to them when he is finally exposed to the outside world. This then shapes his entire view of the world and himself in relation to his environment.
In essence, the house a child spends the first few years of his life can be considered his entire world. Human will always adapt so the child will grow to adapt to his current world, as he sees it. Now, if in adapting to that world which was never prepared to suit his emergent soul, he doesn’t develop the essential skills he needs to survive and render his task and duties in the real world outside his home, it may pose a threat that could affect his quality of life, that of others and the society at large.
So, you understand how important it is to make sure that your home is prepared to facilitate maximum independence and a seamless learning experience for the child. Your home should have answers to his quests; offer a hue of expression to his imagination, and beteach him with tools to bring his imagination to reality. Yes! Raising a child is more that an investment. It’s worth dedicating time, resources and energy to.
“The child has a different relation to his environment from ours… the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul. He incarnates in himself all in the world about him that his eyes see and his ears hear.”
Dr Maria Montessori.
What are the effects the house has on child development?
Studies have shown that children who grow up in clean and well-organized homes tend to achieve more success in their education and financially as adults. A report by the Harvard study of Adult Development also shows that children who are actively involved in cleaning and organizing the house have higher chances of success as adults.
The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) reported that creating a stimulating home learning environment even influences the child’s reading ability and numeracy levels. The LSAC also found that parents spending quality time with their children is a pivotal component of a stimulating learning environment whilst also being one of the main philosophies of Montessori Parenting.
Children exposed to disorderly or cluttered environments often harbour negativity which causes them to be introverted, lack the stimulation to explore their environment or even develop anxiety. Children undergoing a sensitivity to order but are subjected to cluttered or inconsistent environment may become confused, disordered, jumbled and this could impair their ability to make decisions.
There is no denying that creating a clean, organized, safe and controlled environment for your child will help him develop into a responsible member of the society. The UN has also recognized that a healthy, well-organized environment is crucial for a child to play, learn and grow effectively and it is our responsibility as guardians/caregivers to make sure we provide just that.