Childhood is a crucial stage in a person’s life. It is a formative period that lays the foundation for our future selves. It is a delicate period where being unable to meet a child’s needs can have long-lasting effects on their adult life. We often assume that children don’t fully grasp what’s happening around them because they are young. However, this is a misconception. Even at a young age, children can comprehend and understand their surroundings. The experiences faced as a child, from the nurturing environment provided by caregivers to the quality of relationships established, play a crucial role in shaping who we become.

Though we grow up, childhood experiences continue to influence us well into our adulthood and much later in our lives. We often underestimate how big of a role these can play. Think back to why someone behaved the way they did. Is it just because that is the way they are or rather because of the things they experienced as a child? The things we wanted and dreamed of as children still matter to us, but we learn to adapt to fit societal and cultural expectations that are set upon us.

In the context of mental health, the events and environments we encounter during our early formative years shape our psychological well-being in significant ways.

The scars of childhood trauma can run deep, shaping who we become as adults. When children endure physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or witness violence, it can have a lasting impact on their personality. These experiences often lead to mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life. Managing emotions can become a struggle, as they may find it difficult even to regulate their emotions. Trusting others can become a daunting task, and forming healthy relationships can become more difficult.

Children can also be deeply affected by marital problems between their parents. When a partnership is only maintained for the sake of the children, and parents often fight, it deprives the child of the proper care, love, and stable home environment they need. In such situations, children often blame themselves for what’s happening or try to provoke their parents to gain attention. They carry a constant burden of guilt, and instead of experiencing a nurturing family environment, they are exposed to parental disputes. Their home becomes an uncomfortable place for them. These adult issues that should not burden the child at such a young age become ingrained in them while growing up.

Similarly, the way parents raise their children also has a big impact on how they grow up. When parents are very strict and punish their kids frequently, children become anxious and turn into individuals who compulsively abide by the rules, no matter where they are. This is authoritarian parenting.

On the other hand, when parents are warm and give guidance while respecting the child’s independence, it helps the child become confident, independent, and able to care for themselves. This is called authoritative parenting.

An overly protective upbringing can cultivate fears and insecurities in a child, which persist into adulthood, leading to risk-aversive behaviour, trust issues, and excessive worrying about potential dangers.

When parents neglect their children or treat them badly, it manifests as many emotional and psychological problems the children have to deal with throughout their lives. It’s important for parents to provide love, support, and proper guidance to help their children grow into happy and well-adjusted adults.

Additionally, the school environment and peer relationships during childhood also significantly impact children. If a child shares that they are being teased or bullied, it is crucial to address it immediately and create a safe and supportive environment for them to open up. When bullying is left unaddressed, children may develop a self-imposed silence as a protective shield, which can lead to anxiety disorders, social phobia, or even post-traumatic stress disorder in the future. These experiences shape their self-perception and affect their future interactions with others.

The amount of time parents spend with their children is also equally important. Sometimes, parents require personal space or are preoccupied with work. They ask the grandparents to step in and care for and give company to the children during these instances. While children may enjoy the company of their grandparents, if they are consistently sent away to spend time with others, it can damage the parent-child relationship, causing the child to feel neglected. Even though spending time with grandparents may bring joy and treats, it cannot replace parents’ love.

In modern times, it is observed that children are sometimes appeased with toys, but this does not improve the situation. In fact, for the child, the toys are symbols of their parent’s absence. Material possessions cannot substitute love and quality time together. In such cases, children growing up may develop resentment towards their parents, isolate themselves, or even display aggression.

A child is like a seed, and childhood experiences are like the sunlight and water that nurture their growth. What the child grows up to be depends upon the type of nurturing they receive. They hold clues to our strengths and weaknesses, influencing how we behave and connect with others. Therefore, it is essential to take a step back and think about how we are treating children and what they are learning and experiencing. Although every person has their own way of showing love and care, parents have the responsibility to make deliberate decisions about the environment they create for their children.