Personal factors include genetic inheritance, biological programming, maturation or disability.
External factors include insecure early relationships, lack of parental care or control, financial problems/poverty and homelessness, sibling jealousy/rivalry, unrealistic adult expectations/limitations, transitions (such as moving house or schools), inappropriate models, inappropriate learning activities, negative early years’ experience in previous setting , family bereavement or prolonged illness, divorce or separation, family violence or emotional damage through physical/verbal or sexual abuse including being bullied.
Childhood experiences and development can have lifelong consequences in terms of health, education and economic status.
Personal factors;
Genetic inheritance - All children are unique individuals; babies only a few weeks old already have unique personalities. Children inherit their temperaments which are then influenced by social and environmental factors. It is agreed that children’s personalities are mixture of inheritance (nature) and environmental (nurture).
Biological programming – This is unique internal way our brains operate, learn and develop. Communication and language is an in built disposition in all humans (although the ability may not be there for some due to disability, sensory impairment or learning delay). All children no matter what cultural or lingual background learn in the same manner. First learning one word phrases (holophrases) moving on to two or three word sentences (telegraphic)
Maturation – This refers to the sequences of biological growth and development. As the child matures biologically and developmentally the child acquires new abilities. For example a 3-6 month old baby cannot use language due to the fact his brain has not matured enough to allow him to use language. Before they can talk an infant needs