Socialization In Childhood: Characteristics And Development
Socialization is a key process in the development of every human being. Contact with our peers and our environment shapes our identity and behavior. Therefore, we want to tell you more about socialization in childhood.
What is socialization?
Socialization is a process through which we integrate the sociocultural elements of our environment and adapt to society. Through socialization we learn what is acceptable and what is not within the environment in which we operate.
Our learning begins in the first minute of life and never stops. However, early childhood is the key stage of the socialization process, since it is when we are most apt to learn.
Children are born with the ability to learn and the need to seek social stimuli. They are innately called to develop bonds of attachment and friendship, which will play a major role in their first years of life.
The influence of the environment on socialization in childhood
We are all born with enormous potential for social relationships as well as for aggressiveness and violence. It is the environment that determines which of the two polarities will predominate in our behavior. This influence takes place in different ways.
Vicarious learning
The acquisition of socialization in the little ones occurs mainly through vicarious learning. That is, through observing the behaviors and consequences of the people in their environment.
- The family plays a key role in being the child’s first socializers. They will act consciously or unconsciously as models, transmitting values to the child with each of their acts and expressions.
- The school is the next nucleus of socialization with great relevance. The teacher’s way of teaching, his way of treating the students and his attitude will also be great indicators for the child on how to behave.
- The media are increasingly gaining prominence as transmitters of social information. Using visual and simple language, television and other similar media provide children with examples of acceptable and punished behavior. It is essential to review the television content that we offer to our children, making sure that it is in line with the values that we want them to acquire.
The game
Play is another facet of children’s lives that most helps to develop socialization. Through it, the child learns to cooperate with his peers and achieve group achievements.
The tales
The socializing role of narratives, stories or stories is also relevant. This popular activity among the little ones, such as reading stories, has a powerful influence on their developing social mind.
Through these stories, children nurture their imaginations. But they also extract information from them about how the world works and how they should behave. In turn, they serve to release their fears by identifying with the characters.
We must always bear in mind that images and stories teach more than theoretical arguments. Therefore, we must strive to be consistent between what we say to our children and what we show them, both with our behavior and with the content to which we expose them.
How to develop socialization in childhood?
Despite the fact that this is a natural process, inherent to every human being, there are certain things we can do to promote adequate socialization in children.
As they establish social ties and relationships with others, the little ones feel more comfortable with social interaction. Therefore, it is vitally important not to overprotect them.
If we do, we deprive them of the opportunity to experience their own abilities and personality. We deny them the option of learning through trial and error and improving their performance. Through their own social relationship, the child is able to modify their behavior according to the natural consequences that it produces.
It is then a relevant task for parents to motivate and encourage them to socialize. Offer them novel stimuli and situations in which they can face and deal with problems. In this way they develop their self-confidence.
