Role of Neighborhood in Child Development Essay Example

her teachers. Kay eagerly looks forward to going to school every day and constantly thinks and talks about her teachers. Mom finds it both refreshing and confrontational to see her child eagerly anticipating time with her teachers.

General description of Family/Neighbor Relationships: Mom has lived in her neighborhood for 35 years, building strong connections with her neighbors and maintaining positive relationships with them. Additionally, she actively participates in community affairs, serving as the representative for the tenant association.

General Role of the Child’s school in the neighborhood: Mom perceives the school as having a significant impact on the neighborhood as it provides a safe environment for children near their homes. While there are other daycares in the area, she believes that the one her daughter attends treats the children like family.

She feels comfortable and familiar with the small setting and close-knit staff.

THE EXOSYSTEM

Key members of her extended family and their level of contact: Kay has a strong bond with her father and sees him three times a week. Although he is involved in her life, he maintains some distance. Kay's interactions with her sisters have decreased in frequency compared to before. One of her sisters now attends UVA, but when Kay was a baby, she played a significant role in caring for her since their mother had work commitments.

Kay constantly requests to see her sister and cherishes the moments they spend together. Two important neighbors regularly interact with Kay: Ms. Pat, who acts as an honorary grandmother, bakes cakes and spends quality time at Kay's home, and Michelle, a fellow resident on the same floor.

Kay contacts her Aunt Michelle and

maintains regular communication with her Mom's best friends, Kim and Keisha, who are also considered aunts to her. In terms of exposure to mass media, she occasionally watches "Cartoon Network" on her television and enjoys playing games on her Wii Video game console. Additionally, she engages in reading games on her computer.

Kay is an avid reader who visits the library twice a week with her mom. Her favorite book is Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.

The U.S. macrovalues represented by Kay's family are as follows:

• They do not practice any religion or belong to a church.
• Kay's mom is a single mother, and her father lives separately from them.
• Kay's mom completed her education by graduating from high school and attending college at BMCC, where she earned a degree in business management. She also took online courses with Asher University for one year.

In my analysis of Kay's environment, I have concluded that:

Kay exhibits age-appropriate behaviors such as enjoying drawing and engaging in imaginative play, particularly pretending to cook in the kitchen. Her cognitive abilities surpass those of her peers.

Kay's strong attention span can be attributed to her mother, who regularly reads to her and takes her to the library twice a week. Spending ample time with her mother as the only child in the house further improves Kay's attention span. However, there are instances when Kay's attention span weakens, particularly during reprimands. The daycare teacher noticed this during morning meetings, where Kay tends to lose focus and become more interested in latecomers than other children. As a result, it becomes quite challenging to regain Kay's focus.

Kay’s father does not live with them, which may impact her

behavior. When she is with her father and he departs, she becomes extremely emotional for the remainder of the day. This is quite uncommon for Kay, as both her mother and teachers perceive her as independent and resourceful. Although Kay's mother does not have employment, they receive assistance from the government. During the interview, she mentioned that their neighborhood is unsafe and they cannot afford to relocate. Consequently, she is optimistic about the neighborhood improving.

Kay's mom is currently not employed, giving her ample free time. This enables her to have a social life beyond just her immediate family, which in turn benefits Kay as she gains an extended family. Moreover, Kay's mom enjoys a positive relationship with the daycare teachers. She believes that these teachers' encouragement and assistance have helped improve her daughter's speaking skills.

Her daughter's increasing social engagement and extroversion pleases her. The teacher regularly informs Kay's mother about school events and her eating habits.

SUMMARY COMMENT ON OBSERVATION:

Kay, a four-year-old biracial Caucasian girl without any disabilities, is making positive progress in social, emotional, cognitive, and physical coordination abilities. However, she tends to avoid maintaining eye contact when receiving criticism.

She is a selective eater, excluding French fries. She excels academically and enjoys going to school, especially to discuss her teacher. Kai's baseline achievement level is graded highly. She delights in watching Cartoon Network, playing games, and reading. She joins her mom in visiting the library twice a week. Additionally, she actively participates in society and is socially engaged.

Kay maintains a strong bond with her father, despite the distance, as they meet thrice weekly. Her immediate family consists of her mother and her sister's

child, and together they identify with American ethnicity. English is their primary language, and they embrace a multicultural lifestyle, lacking a specific custom or religious affiliation.

The family is surrounded by unfaithful neighbors, but she hopes they will improve. COMMENTARY ON THE CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT IN EACH OF THE DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS: After reviewing the collected data, there are reasonable concerns about Kay's lifestyle. Kay is a typical child for her age and has no disabilities. The results show normal progress in emotional, social, cognitive, and physical coordination areas. When being reprimanded or talking, Kay avoids eye contact. She is a picky eater and only eats everything except French fries. Kay enjoys playing in the kitchen and pretending to cook.

She enjoys attending school daily because she enjoys discussing her teacher. In her free time, she enjoys drawing. Unlike other children, she has exceptional cognitive abilities. This is because her mother takes her to the liberty twice a week, which enhances her academic performance. However, she is more easily distracted than any other student in the class.

Kai's baseline achievement level is considered high. Despite the distance between them, Kai and her father meet three times a week to maintain their strong bond. However, this arrangement may impact Kai's behavior. Normally, she displays liveliness and happiness when her father visits. However, once he departs, she experiences emotional distress for the rest of the day. In these moments, she may exhibit crying behaviors when seeking something. Although uncommon for her, both her mother and teacher view it as a sign of resourcefulness and independence.

Both Kay and her mother are unemployed and receive government assistance, which gives them plenty of time to

socialize with each other, their friends, and build strong relationships with Kay's teachers.

The majority of her leisure time is spent with Kay, as she is the only child living in the household.

CONCLUDING COMMENTARY:

Based on the aforementioned information, it is evident that a child's development is a complex and unique journey. We have witnessed the growth of Kay, a four-year-old girl, and it seems that there has been a change in the dynamic between parent and child.

This emphasizes the important benefits she will receive from her mother's programs and care, allowing her to improve her emotional well-being and continue advancing intellectually and socially. This is crucial for reaching her maximum potential in life. Additionally, the early childhood program promotes the child's overall development and advancement through various activities that focus on communication, expression, and exploration. Thus, it contributes to the child's progress both socially and academically.

References

• Charlesworth, R. (2014), Understanding Child Development. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

The text above is already unified andwhile preserving the and their contents.