Holistic Development in Children

INTRODUCTION

An individual’s life span comprises four major thrust areas of development.

From conception to about eight years, the cognitive development in the child is very important. Parents need to provide adequate stimulation for the child to nurture creativity, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving ability, perceptual acuity, perceptual learning, intelligence, and memory.

From eight years to adulthood educational development should take place. Parents, teachers, specialists, and society should work for the holistic development of the individual during this period.

Vocational development takes place during adulthood and middle age. Here, one has to develop and use the skills necessary to deal with life and should derive contentment from one’s work. The idea of contentment involves minimum discomfort to oneself and others.

The later age is typically manifested by spiritual development where one’s interest is in trying to reach higher goals of satisfaction and contentment.

COGNITIVE AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Education forms a significant part of life that determines future adjustment. Therefore, it is necessary to deal with it in greater detail. Unlike the present scenario where education has permeated into mere marks scoring exercise, the essence of holistic development is found in the following major life skills.

1. Study Involvement

2. Cognitive Abilities

3. Intellectual Capacity

4. Personality Development

5. Need Fulfilment

6. Emotional Balance

7. Communication Skills

8. Social Maturity and

9. Moral Development

1. Study Involvement

Educational psychologists identify several psychological and social factors contributing to the academic achievement of the students. One important variable reflecting the internal processes and influencing the efficiency with which a student is capable of handling the stressors in the educational environment is his/her involvement in studies. Study involvement is positively related to academic achievement. Following dimensions make up for the 'study involvement' in students:

· Interest in Studies

· Study Habits

· Classroom Behavior

· Library Work

· Career Orientation

· Extracurricular Activities

· Co-curricular Activities

· General Knowledge

· Study Orientation

· Attitude towards Study and

· Overcoming Exam Fear

2. Cognitive Abilities

Human beings are endowed with a highly developed cerebral cortex in the brain. Functionally, the cortex has specific areas involved in carrying out day-to-day activities. The Motor area controls body movements and the Sensory area receives sensory impulses from the body. The finer differentiation of perceptual inputs is done for vision in the visual area and hearing in the auditory area. Our major focus lies in the Language areas and Association areas of the brain, which are responsible for higher mental functions. The development of cognitive abilities depends upon the extent to which these areas are stimulated and nurtured during the life span of the individual.

Cognitive Abilities Include

· Speed-Reading

· Attention & Concentration

· Skill Learning

· Efficient Memory

· Creativity

· Perceptual Skills

· Aptitudes and

· Hobbies and Interests

3. Intellectual Capacity

While IQ measurement has become outdated, we need to look at the different ways in which the intelligence of a person is used. According to David Wechsler (1944), “Intelligence is the aggregate or global capacity of the individual to act purposefully, to think rationally and to deal effectively with his environment”. Its growth is similar to that of height. A considerable increase is found in the first five years followed by a steady rate of growth until one reaches the age of around 18 to 21 years. By the end of this period very little can be done to increase intelligence. Hence, intellectual capacity should be nurtured in schools and colleges. Though heredity plays an important role in intellectual development, an enriched environment can overrule the effects of inheritance at least to some extent.

The following abilities are considered under intellectual capacity:

· Verbal Ability

· Numerical Ability

· Comprehension

· Abstract Reasoning

· Logical Reasoning

· Performance Intelligence

· Analytical Ability and

· Spatial Relations

4. Personality Development

There is a great misuse of the word personality by people simply because they feel that anything can be included under it. However, personality refers to certain characteristic traits of an individual that determine considerable consistency in behavior. The shaping of personality occurs over a period, by collating one’s own experiences. Rather than trying to develop a few skills, we must stress about an individual’s effective capability to adjust with oneself, the environment, and the interaction between the two.

Personality development includes the following aspects:

· Frustration Tolerance

· Stress Reduction

· Leadership Qualities

· Psychological Well Being

· Social Adjustment

· Locus of Control and

· Realistic Approach

5. Need Fulfilment

A log of wood would be no different from a human being if not for the needs that gear us up towards fulfillment and satisfaction. However, the cyclical process of motivation does not end in itself. The need should be strong, the drive must be forceful, and the satisfaction ought to be complete.

Need fulfillment takes into consideration the following dimensions:

· Aspiration

· Achievement

· Cooperation

· Competition

· Autonomy

· Self-Esteem and

· Self-Actualization

6. Emotional Balance

We keep learning several emotions as we grow up but we know very little about what to do with them. Negative emotions like anger and fear override our capabilities. Aggression, depression, and suicide have hazardous consequences. Over a while, negative emotions and unfulfilled desires affect our body, too, and we have greater chances of developing psycho-physiological disorders like peptic ulcer, hypertension, bronchial asthma, migraine and tension headaches, heart problems, and also diabetes.

It is necessary to cater to the following sub-areas to maintain emotional balance:

· Overcoming Loneliness

· Restlessness

· Helplessness

· Emotional Regulation

· Self-Confidence and

· Emotional Intelligence

7. Communication Skills

Our interaction with the environment determines our effectiveness in whatever we do. Communication does not simply mean public speaking. It indicates how well we can organize our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions and get across them to others around us. Simultaneously, it involves how receptive we are to others’ internal behavior.

The development of the following skills is necessary for effective communication:

· Listening Skills

· Reading Ability

· Writing Ability

· Human Relations

· Verbal Communication

· Nonverbal Communication and

· Overcoming Stage Fear

8. Social Maturity

Being members of society, we place ourselves in the “web of social relationships”. Our level of maturity determines how well we are influenced by others and how well we influence others.

The following are the developmental aspects:

· Group Behavior

· Interaction Skills

· Interpersonal Relationships

· Attitude Development

· Defense Against Propaganda

· Reducing Stereotypes

· Independence and

· Self-Awareness

9. Moral Development

The last but a highly ignored area of development is in inculcating the moral and ethical values of the society in which we live. Traditionally, home and religion used to take over these functions. However, the dissipation of the joint family system and the dogmatism of religions have left a void in the following aspects:

· Integrity

· Kindness

· Honesty

· Mutual Trust

· Self-Respect

· Self-Discipline and

· Altruism

· Empathy

CONCLUSION

A concerted effort is needed by one and all to consider all these areas of development during education. Thus, its complexity has no bounds

As it is often mentioned, there are no qualifying exams to become either an adult or a parent. Though teachers go through a set of qualifications, they are generally syllabus oriented than student-oriented

The need of the hour is for the educational institutions and parental organizations to seek help and guidance for ensuring holistic development in the student. Given the present state of affairs, we would be turning out 'marks scoring machines' and not individuals.

Enrichment of knowledge should result in skill and attitudinal development. Knowledge per se is useless and it leads to the perishing of our inherent capabilities. Let physical growth be coupled with mental development. At least then we are assured of passing our mantel to responsible future citizens.