Foundation of Future Growth and Success: Bonding with Your Child

Photo by Josh Willink

The children’s book, Talk, Play and Read with Me Daddy by Gramlich gives parents a fantastic opportunity to interact with their children and knowing them better in order to develop a deeper and meaningful bond.

The parent-child relationship is the most critical aspect of a child’s development. Remember, people are social creatures, and they assign a lot of growth from being in relationships, thriving in them, and acquiring satisfaction. Children can learn more about their immediate environments, community, and society through their relationships with their parents. It is also through this relationship that children develop their personalities and their outlooks on the world. How they relate and interact with their parents is how they will build future relationships.

Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory as it Relates to Early Childhood

According to Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, having activities like reading, where children get to choose their own books or do their own work step by step is important for reinforce choice making. Additionally, helping children fix their own mistakes, (i.e.. breaking toys or during play), can help develop self-confidence and allow children to feel a sense of purpose.. By learning to plan and achieve goals while interacting with others, toddlers and preschoolers will acquire skills that will help them develop self esteem and be sure of themselves. 

From this theory, parents can learn how to navigate better when raising their children so that they develop and grow to become well-rounded individuals. The child develops curiosity about a topic, concept, problem, or idea, then seeks out methods to satisfy this curiosity. This type of learning allows for children to develop strong values and confidence because their whole being is considered during the learning process.

Here are the infancy, toddler, and preschool stages and what your little one will learn during each phase:

Infancy (Under a year old)—Children depend on their mothers and learn to trust them in this stage. The virtue here is hope, the ability to aspire towards preferred outcomes. The fear is that children might become mistrustful if the mother does not care for the child enough.

Toddlerhood (1-2 years old)—Children have become dependent on both parents and learn to become autonomous in this stage. The virtue here is determination, the ability to act and make results. The fear is that children self-internalize shame if their parents coddle or scold them too much.

Early Childhood (3-6 years old)—Children become intimate with the broader family and learn to take the initiative in this stage. The virtue here is self-purpose, the ability to find meaning and satisfaction with one’s self. The fear is that children develop long-held feelings of guilt if the family does not let the child explore on their own.

What Does Erikson’s Theory Mean for Parenting?

If parents understand the importance of social stages and development, they will be able to better support their child as they build life-long relationships. Parents can engage with their children in a positive, productive, and beneficial manner. It also offers insights and lessons for parents to communicate to their children, especially the importance of maintaining good relationships with family, friends, and other members of the community.

Talk, Play and Read with Me Daddy by Jo Ann Gramlich

For new parents and their child, Talk Play and Read with Me Daddy by Gramlich is an excellent tool to start with because its contents allows for fun and interactions during regular daily routines which will help to increase their child’s communication skills. Also, shared bonding moments will naturally take place during these fun interactive activities and games.