Developing brain nurtured by loving homelife

The study found the environment in which children grow up affects how well they pick up everything from language and writing to important social and moral skills. Photo / Getty Images

The environment in which children are raised has a great impact in developing their brains to acquire social and moral skills, according to a new study.

Love and security, or lack of it, offered by parents and caregivers was a critical factor in how children coped as adults with issues as diverse as family violence, crime, social and educational success, and mental health, the authors found.

The report - Healthy Families, Young Minds and Developing Brains - was compiled for the Families Commission. It brings together research from a range of sources, both here and overseas, and puts it in a New Zealand context.

Authors Charles and Kasia Waldegrave found that the environment in which children grew up had an impact on their developing brains which, in turn, affected how well they picked up everything from language and writing to important social and moral skills, such as knowing how to control their emotions and desires, and have empathy for others.

"In loving, nurturing environments the child's brain will develop normally," said Mr Waldegrave. "But recent developments in neuroscience and child development show that ongoing experiences of neglect, abuse or violence can seriously damage development in children, leading to long-term impairment of their intellectual, emotional and social functioning."

Whether children experienced happy or negative behaviour around them affected the maturing orbitfrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for emotional intelligence, research has found. When a child did not experience pleasure for periods of time, as a result of stress, threat or neglect, the "wiring" development would favour one side more than the other.

Ultimately this could affect an adult's "human willpower, self-control, empathy, and capacity to modify immediate impulses".

The Waldegraves made the link between low socio-economic status, poverty and health development.

"The associations of poor family living conditions with ill health, low educational attainment and crime can create stress, depression and a sense of hopelessness."

Some parents who lived in these conditions struggled to get the resources they needed to live comfortably without stress and provide a stimulating environment for their children, the authors said.

"The risk factors are substantial, and require vigorous, high-quality social policy and public health responses."

Chief Families Commissioner Jan Pryor said the study showed how important it was for governments and society to value parenting and create environments that supported strong, resilient, loving families in which to raise children.

"What this research tells us is that impaired mind and brain development during childhood can be a major contributor to criminal behaviour in later life, because of the developing child's inability to self-regulate and create sensitive relationships with others."

The Families Commission will use the study to develop advice it is preparing for the Government on the importance and nature of early intervention. The study will also contribute to the commission's work in lobbying for better access to parenting support information, early childhood education, and childcare.

- NZPA