Lesson 1 Child Development and Cognition
Parenting the Young
Child development and Cognition
Welcome to our Parenting the Young online course! We are so happy to have you join us on this journey to
discover more about yourself as a parent, your child, and how to overcome some common challenges parents
face as they raise their children ages 2 to 5 years old.
Course Overview
This online course will include four lessons full of information, journal entry opportunities, supplemental videos, and so much more. These four lessons will be rich with information that will be beneficial to parents struggling with the many challenges that come with raising children. Children are the future of this world and we want to be able to raise them in the best ways possible to ensure that they are growing into emotionally, socially, and well developed children who will grow up to be more aware and conscientious adults.
Our lesson plan includes:
Lesson 1: How parental responsiveness affects child development and cognition
Lesson 2: How parental reactions to a child’s emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, tantrums, and behavioral
Lesson 3: Benefits of the parent child relationship coming before discipline
Lesson 4: Nurturing according to love languages and Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
The goals we focus on most in these four lessons are meant to help you as parents learn to cope and nurture
the cognitive, emotional, and social needs of children effectively. They’ll teach parents how to handle
tantrums and emotional dysregulation and how to respond to a child’s negative emotions in a way that
positively impacts development. Parents who desire to nurture their children in all areas of development will
find information on how to deal with their challenges and find the strength and ability to parent their children
in the best ways possible. It is an ability that is within you.
Journal:At this point, it would be beneficial for you as a student to this online course, to start a physical or online journal,
document, or note entry that will be used throughout these lessons for your own thoughts and ideas regarding
the information we will cover. For now, draw your thoughts to the type of person you hope your child or
children will become. Create a list of things you want your child to be; Do you want them to be kind, strong,
hard working, or helpful, etc.? After writing that list, ponder and consider writing the things you are doing or
hope to do to encourage these traits in your children. Are you treating them in ways that would be an example
of kindness or strength? Think about how you can help your child develop these traits and then turn your
thoughts to how their cognitive, emotional, and social development will impact the traits they acquire.
Lesson 1 Child Development and Cognition
How Parental Responsiveness Affects Child Development and Cognition
Introduction
In this lesson we will study how parental responsiveness affects early brain development in children aged
two to five years of old. More specifically we will study 5 specific areas of parental responsiveness and child development and cognition.
Learning outcomes:
Be able to define parental responsiveness.
Explain how responsive parenting influences a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.
Explain how responsive parenting influences child attachment.
Learn how love influences the developing brain and child cognition.
Learning outcome 1, Defining Parental Responsiveness
We have defined parental responsiveness- the way a parent reacts, notices, interprets, and responds
appropriately to their child’s cues, signals and needs. It is not simply reacting to a child’s behavior, but
doing so in a warm, supportive and developmentally appropriate way for them. Responsive parents will
observe their child's verbal and non verbal cues- such as crying, smiling, and changes in mood- and respond
in ways that show understanding, empathy and care. This consistent feedback loop will help children learn
that their environment is safe. For example, if a toddler cries because they are hungry, a responsive parent
notices the cue and feeds the toddler. Over time, this teaches the child that they can put their trust in that
caregiver and that their needs will be met. This urges them to ask for help in the future. The way a parent
reacts, notices, interprets, and responds appropriately to their child’s cues, signals and needs (Zhao, et al
2023) is what we consider responsive parenting. This video example of what responsive parenting is, may help us understand the elements of
responsive parenting better:
Here are some core elements of Parental Responsiveness:
Sensitivity: perceiving what the child needs or feels
Promptness: Responding quickly so that the child feels acknowledged and valued
Consistency: providing dependable responses that will build a sense of stability for the child
Appropriateness: Adjusting responses to match each child’s age, temperament and each situation.
Together, each of these elements will create a foundation for healthy emotional and cognitive growth.
A story from one of the course creators:
When Emma was little, she never knew what kind of mood her mom would be in. Somedays, her mother
was warm and cheerful, helping Emma get dressed, asking about her day, and laughing at her stories.
Other days, her mom seemed distant, buried in her phone or lost in thought. When Emma cried or asked
for help, her mom might sigh or tell her she was being “too sensitive”. By eight, Emma had begun to
internalize a painful belief: that love and comfort were unpredictable. Sometimes, she’d get love, and
sometimes she wouldn’t. This uncertainty made her anxious and cautious of new relationships. As she grew
older, Emma’s brain had adapted to expect inconsistency. Research shows that children raised with
emotionally inconsistent caregiving have higher cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone. Emma fit that
pattern. She was bright and imaginative but often overwhelmed by emotions she didn’t understand. It wasn’t
until middle school, when her aunt began taking her on the weekends, that Emma really experienced
consistent warmth and empathy. Her aunt always listened and always showed up. Over time, Emma
began to relax.
Think of times in your life either when you were a child or as a parent when inconsistent parenting or low
parental responsiveness influenced yours, or your child’s ability to form secure relationships.
Learning outcome 2, Explaining how Parenting Influences a Child's Cognitive, Emotional, and Social
Development
Early intervention influences neural connectivity in areas related to empathy, memory and attention.
“The scientific evidence on the significant developmental impacts on early experiences, caregiving
relationships, and environmental threats is incontrovertible.” (Olson, 2012)
How Parental responsiveness affects development:
Cognitive development: Responsive parents will engage in rich verbal and nonverbal communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BizJQTE89qk.
Emotional development: When parents are consistently comforting and supporting their children,
and frustration. This emotional stability will help promote confidence and empathy towards each
Social development: Children that are raised by responsive parents are more likely to form healthy
Brain development: Research has shown that responsive parenting supports the growth of neural
The effects of inconsistent or low parental responsiveness
When parents are unresponsive, inconsistent, or emotionally unavailable, children might struggle to form
secure attachments, which is the foundation for trust. Without predictable and nurturing feedback, children
might develop anxiety, or a sense of insecurity about whether their needs are going to be met. These reactions
from your child may result in outbursts, emotional breakdowns, and other emotional reactions that might
seem silly to you. To your child, their reaction is the only thing they understand to do.
Cognitively, these children may experience delays in language, problem solving and even executive
function as they receive fewer stimulating and emotionally supportive interactions. Chronic unresponsiveness
also elevates stress levels, releasing hormones like cortisol that can interfere with brain development,
particularly in such areas related to memory, emotional regulation, and attention span. Over time, children
raised in less responsive homes may have more difficulty focusing, managing emotions and building healthy
social relationships, these are challenges that can persist into adolescence and adulthood.
The hope is for parents to be aware of the way they respond to their children so they can attune their responses
to the needs of their children. Next, we have a video that focuses on what an emotionally unavailable parent looks
like in reality that we invite you to watch. This video is simply to bring awareness to what unresponsiveness and
unavailability looks like so that you as parents can truly recognize the effects your actions have on development in
young minds. Your responsiveness and availability directly affect the behavior and development of your child: This
short video gives examples of an emotionally unavailable parent. These are examples of things our children should
not have to deal with from their parents. The more emotionally available you are as a parent, the more your child
will understand how to be emotionally available themselves.
Parenting style affects the way your child develops cognitively, emotionally, and socially
The three primary parenting styles commonly agreed upon by experts are: authoritative, authoritarian, and
permissive. They have all been well studied and researchers and parents alike have generally agreed that only one
is going to help you raise well balanced children with high self esteem, confidence, independence, good
self-regulation, generally happier and capable children.
First we will cover the two parenting styles that are not recommended. Authoritarian parenting emphasizes
obedience, discipline and control. Often they use strict rules and punishments with little room for talking back.
While this style may produce well-behaved children for a little while, it can also lead to increased anxiety and low
self-esteem. The second approach is permissive parents nurture and accept but tend to set few limits or expectations.
They often avoid confrontation and will allow children a high degree of freedom. Although these children may feel
loved, they can struggle with self-control, responsibility and a respect for rules, which may hinder their success in
structured environments like school.
Now we will cover what is known as authoritative parenting, which combines warmth and sensitivity with
clear expectations and consistent boundaries. They often encourage open communication, independence and
problem-solving, while also providing emotional support. Research has shown that children raised in this
environment tend to have higher self-esteem, better academic outcomes and stronger emotional regulation.
The parenting style we choose to use with our children will directly affect the way they develop and learn to
function.
Learning outcome 3, Responsive Parenting and Child Attachment
Even after covering the first two learning outcomes you may be wondering what responsive parenting looks
like in real life. Responsive parenting can look like following the lead of your child as you play with them.
Sometimes they need to be in charge and during playtime with them is a low risk time to let them take
control. Additionally, when you enter into their world of play and imagination it is often beneficial for their
self esteem for you to follow their lead. They will guide you through the make believe world they are
creating. In younger children closer to ages two and three years old they may enjoy you mimicking the silly
sounds they make. When you repeat phrases or sounds they make you are encouraging them to improve
their speaking and imaginative skills.
One last example of responsive parenting is to simply be present, and as hard as it can be, put your phone
away when they speak to you, while you're playing, eating meals together, etc. I like to think of it this way:
when you are talking to a teenager, or anyone for that matter, it is generally respectful for them to give you
their attention when doing activities together, eating together, and when conversing. It shows respect and
love because you are telling them with your eye contact and verbal communication that what they have to
say or what they are doing is important. As your young children are developing and learning they look to
you as an example of how to act, so modeling the behavior you want them to exhibit is always the best
course of action. This next short video gives an example of responsive parenting in infants using a form of
expanding language:
Child Attachment
You may have heard of child attachment and child attachment theories but they aren’t always common
knowledge. Child attachment theories include: secure attachment, avoidant attachment, resistant attachment, and
disorganized attachment. The way we respond to our children directly impacts the attachment style they develop and
this typically follows them throughout their lives. Children with a secure attachment to their parents or caregivers
are most likely to exhibit good emotional regulation skills throughout their growing up years (Chen et al, 2021).Secure attachment is something that cannot be built overnight or through one conversation or experience with your
child. It takes time and consistent effort getting to know your child, their needs, and then meeting those needs as
they arrive. Secure attachment is the deep emotional bound that forms between a child and a caregiver. This bond
gives children a sense of safety and trust, allowing them to explore the world while knowing they can return to their
care giver for comfort when needed.
Learning outcome 4, Love influences the developing brain and child cognition
Journal:What do you think are some of the most powerful influences in shaping a child’s developing brain? Take about a
minute and write any ideas you come up with about what the powerful influences on cognition and development
in your child's life may be. Some examples include feeling loved/secure, receiving consistent support, getting
engaging responses, and being shown healthy behaviors through modeling, etc.
The powerful influence of love and nurturing
Keep those powerful influences you came up with in mind and try connecting them with a child’s need to
feel loved. How are those influences going to be directed toward your child in a loving way? As we go on,
we want to focus on how love and nurturing care are powerful forces in shaping a child’s developing brain.
From birth, warm, responsive interactions between parents and children will stimulate neural connections
that are essential for learning, memory and emotional regulation. When the parents express affection, provide
comfort, and respond to their child’s needs the brain releases oxytocin and other “feel-good” chemicals that
strengthen attachment and reduce stress levels. Over time, these positive emotional experiences build
stronger pathways in areas of the brain linked to attention, and problem solving (Gunnar & Quevedo, 2007).
Children who grow up surrounded by consistent love and emotional support will tend to show higher levels
of curiosity, creativity and self-control. In contrast, a lack of affection may increase stress hormones like
cortisol, which can interfere with brain growth. Simply put, love acts as a foundation for a healthy mind
and body, it helps children feel safe, helps them think clearly and engage confidently in the world around
them.
This next video explores the incredible connection between love, relationships and brain development.
It explains how everyday interactions, such as comfort, affection and responsive caregiving, literally shape
the architecture of a child’s brain. The video below highlights how consistent emotional support helps
children feel secure, think clearly and build the foundations for life.
Love isn’t just an emotion, it is a biological force that helps shape a child's developing brain. Neuroscience
research demonstrates that the brain is highly sensitive to the quality of early caregiving relationships,
especially during the first 5 years of life, when those neural connections are forming very fast. (Center on
the Developing Child, 2023) When a caregiver expresses warmth, affection and consistent responsiveness,
they help organize the brain’s stress response system and help strengthen neural pathways that support
learning, emotional regulation and executive functioning. (Schore, 2015; Siegel, 2012) Love and responsive
caregiving also enhance language and cognitive development. When parents talk, read, and respond to their
child’s cues, neural connections in the language area of the brain become more efficient. (Tomopoulos et, al.,
2019) Children who experience consistent love and secure attachment are more curious, motivated and
resilient when facing challenges (Cassidy & Shaver, 2016)
The power of love in early child development is most clearly seen through responsive parenting, which
serves as the bridge between emotional connection and healthy brain growth. When caregivers are attuned
to their child’s cues- comforting distress, celebrating curiosity, and providing consistent support, they are
actively wiring the brain for trust, confidence and emotional balance. This type of caregiving fosters secure
attachment, which is the foundation for lifelong learning and resilience. Through warm, responsive
interactions, parents do more than meet basic news, they nurture the very structure of the child’s brain.
Conclusion
Above all else we hope you learned that responsive parenting is one of the most powerful influences on
cognitive, emotional, and social development in your child. Beyond that, our desire is that you have discovered the
ways you are responsively parenting and the ways you can improve the ways you are a responsive parent. Responsive
parenting builds trust, emotional regulation, resilience, and empathy in your child. Further, we defined responsive
parenting as: the way a parent reacts, notices, interprets, and responds appropriately to their child’s cues, signals and
needs.
Taking a Look Ahead
The next lesson will cover information on how your responses to your child as their parent affect their emotional
regulation/dysregulation. We will teach you what emotional dysregulation is, different ways you can handle
dysregulation, tantrums, emotional distress, etc., and how your responses affect your child’s emotional development
and self-control.
References
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1979). Infant-mother attachment. American Psychologist, 34 (10), 932-937. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.34.10.932
Berger, E. H. (1999). Supporting parents with two essential understandings: Attachment and brain
development. Early Childhood Education Journal, Vol 26, Number 4. https://research.ebsco.com/c/pwkw7r/viewer/pdf/q57syrisd5.
Campana, K., Baldini, M., Chun, J., & Loop, J. (2024). Nurturing little bodies and brains: Supporting
brain development, learning, and health for families. Children and Libraries. https://research.ebsco.com/c/pwkw7r/viewer/pdf/vuy5mrczjf.
Cassidy, J., &Shaver, P.R.(Eds.).(2016). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical
applications (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Chen, X., Kwon, S., McElwain, N. L., Rogers, C. R., Telzer, E. H. (2021). The role of early attachment
and parental presence in adolescent behavioral and neurobiological regulation. Development Cognitive
Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101046.
Gunnar, M.R.,& Donzella, B. (2002). Social regulation of the cortisol levels in early human development.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 27 (1-2), 199-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4530(01)00045-2.
Gunnar, M.R., & Quevedo, K. (2007). The neurobiology of stress and development. Annual Review of
Psychology, 58 (1), 145-173. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085605
Kohlhoff, J., & Cibralic, S. (2022). The impact of attachment-based parenting interventions on externalizing
behaviors in toddlers and preschoolers: A systematic narrative review. Child and Youth Care Forum.
https://research.ebsco.com/c/pwkw7r/viewer/pdf/lmkfl245an.
Landry, S.H., Smith, K.E., & Swank, P.R. (2006). Responsive parenting: Establishing early foundations for social, communication, and independent problem-solving skills. Developmental Psychology, 42 (4), 627-642. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.42.4.627.
Olson, S. (Ed.). (2012). From neurons to neighborhoods : An update: workshop summary. National
Academies Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/byui/detail.action?docID=3379015.
Shonoff, J.P., & Phillips, D.A (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early
childhood developmentNational Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9824.
Tomopoulos, S., Dreyer, B.P., Berkule,S., Fierman, A.H., Brockmeyer, C., & Mendelsohn, A.L. (2019).
Shared reading, parent-child emotional connection, and child cognitive development. Pediatrics, 143
(4), e20182099. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2099
Zhao, F., Sun, Y., Zhang, Y., Xu, T., Wang, N., Yan, S., Zeng, T., Zhang, F., Gao, J., Yue, Q., & Rozelle, S.
(2023). Comparison of mothers’ perceptions of hunger cues in 3-month-old infants under different feeding
methods. BMC Public Health, 23 (1), 1-10. Page 2, Paragraph 2.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15325-3
Comments
Post a Comment