What Influences a Child’s Ability to Thrive in a Diverse Society?

What Influences a Child’s Ability to Thrive in a Diverse Society?
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What Influences a Child’s Ability to Thrive in a Diverse Society?
Child’s development constitutes a dynamic and increasingly interactive process. Every child interacts differently with their immediate environment and society at large. Such interactions, including what they receive from the environment and others, significantly influence their behavioural inclinations and personalities. Children growth and development, including their capacity to thrive in a diverse society, is influenced by different social constructs. A diverse society is a reality of cohabitation of populations characterized by different beliefs, arts, morals, religions, abilities and disabilities, customs, laws, knowledge, ethnicities, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, etc. (Lin, 2020, p.1). The report examines how a child’s race, gender, and culture influences their ability to thrive in an increasingly diverse society.
Gender significantly influences a child’s ability to thrive in a diverse society. Gender norms are inherent and deeply entrenched beliefs concerning gender expectations and roles that government human practices as well as behaviours (UNICEF, 2021, p.2). Discriminatory and stereotypical beliefs concerning a child’s gender result in behaviours and practices that negatively impact their future and their capacity to integrate into a diverse society effectively (UNICEF, 2021, p.2). Gender is also a critical predictor of a child’s development and health, with boys showing greater vulnerability due to societal expectations (Cho, Holditch‐Davis, & Miles, 2010, p.1). For example, it is anticipated that girls would marry and become housewives in many communities while boys would generate incomes and provide for the household and society at large (Plan International, 2019, p.4).
The cultural background provides children with a sense of their identity and personality. A child’s cultural background could conflict with the different cultures in a diverse society, thus undermining their ability to develop and integrate into the community effectively (Harju-Luukkainen and Vettenranta, J., 2013, p.78). The different cultures influence children to adjust to their environment from birth, including beliefs and customs about artistic expression, language, religion, and food. These factors impact how children develop socially, physically, emotionally, and linguistically (Maryville University, n.d). When a child faces cultural conflicts with their social environment due to cultural differences, it can hinder their ability to develop and learn (The Conversation, 2018, n.p). In that way, it is essential for early childhood prac...