The significance of the primary care-giver (usually the mother) in determining the attachment style of the child is well known. Hence, how efficacious the foster parent would be in fulfilling the psychological needs of the growing child is a crucial question. When the primary caregiver-child attachment is sub-standard then the child’s disposition toward the world, other adults, future relationships and their conception of themselves – all of them will be influenced.
Good relationship between parents is very helpful
Often, a cordial and loving relationship between the child’s parents add to the latter’s psychological wellbeing. Children, who find their parents constantly quarrelling and abusing each other instinctively, believe that they are responsible for this strife. This induces a sense of guilt in the child’s psyche and has a negative impact on its self esteem. Hence, the relationship between the baby’s parents is also a crucial factor in its healthy development (Kohn, 2000).
Playing with babies helps their development:
In order to stimulate a baby’s sensory development, they need to be played with. Sharp high-pitched sounds stimulate their hearing. Similarly, their sensitive, soft skin responds to the gentle touch of the caregiver. When babies are encouraged to crawl on all four limbs, it helps strengthen their muscular growth. Hence, play is an important component of a child’s development. Caregivers should be careful as to how they play with the child. Depending on the age of the child one must choose appropriate play object. This way the likelihood of any physical injury to the child can be minimized (Clark & Moss, 2001).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, it could be asserted that parenting plays an important role in the all round development of a child. Ideally, the mother and father would take up the responsibilities of satisfying the child’s basic needs. In case this is not possible, foster parents can successfully integrate themselves into the void left by the biological parents, albeit with the assistance of a trained psychotherapist. For example, through the implementation of Dyadic Psychotherapeutic techniques, the therapist can re-inculcate in the child a sense of secure attachment with its foster parents (Karen, 2003). In doing so, the child achieves a state of contingent and collaborative communication with its new caretakers. It is imperative on part of the child’s caregivers to avoid traumatic experiences for the child in its early years. When caregivers understand and apply basic principles of child development it empowers the child to self-regulate external and internal inputs later in life.