A child comes to this world, as they say, tabula rasa (that is, a "clean slate"). And it is precisely on how the child is brought up that his future life will depend on: this person will be successful in the future or will sink to the very bottom of life. That is why this article will examine in detail such a problem as the socialization of the child.
Terminology
Initially, of course, you need to define those terms that will be actively used throughout the article. So, the socialization of the child is the development of the baby from the very moment of his birth. It depends on the interaction of the crumbs with the environment, while the child will actively absorb everything that he sees, hears, feels. This is the understanding and assimilation of all cultural and moral norms and values, as well as the processes of self-development in the society to which the child belongs.
Generally speaking, socialization is a process of assimilation by a child of social norms, values and principles that exist in a given society. And also the absorption of those rules of behavior that are actively used by its members.
Structural components
It is also important to note that the socialization of a child consists of the following structural components:
- Spontaneous socialization. In this case, we are talking about the process of self-development of the baby under the influence of objective circumstances. It is very difficult to control this component.
- Relatively directed socialization. In this case, we are talking about those nuances that the state is taking to solve problems that directly affect a person. These are various economic, organizational and legislative measures.
- Relatively controlled socialization. These are all the spiritual and cultural norms created by the state as a whole and society separately.
- Conscious self-change of a person. However, it should be noted that this point of socialization is not peculiar to children. It most likely relates more to adults. Minimum - to adolescents who have come to the conclusion that they need to change something in their lives.
Stages of socialization
It should also be noted that the socialization of the child consists of a number of critical stages, which differ depending on the age of the crumbs:
- Infancy (the age of the baby until the first year of life).
- Early childhood, when the baby is from 1 to 3 years old.
- Preschool age (from 3 to 6 years).
- Younger school (6-10 years) age.
- Younger teens (approximately 10-12 years old).
- Senior teenage (12-14 years old) age.
- Early adolescence (15-18 years).
The other stages of socialization follow , however, not of a child, but of an adult. Indeed, according to the UN Convention, a child is considered a person who has not reached the age of majority. We are 18 years old.
Factors of socialization
The process of socialization is very difficult. After all, it includes such a concept as factors of socialization. In this case, we are talking about those conditions and the behavior of society that clearly articulates certain norms and principles in the child. Factors are divided into four huge groups:
- Megafactors. Such that affect all the inhabitants of the planet. For example, this is space, world, planet. In this case, the child needs to develop an understanding of the value of the Earth, that is, the planet on which everyone lives.
- Macro factors. Cover fewer people. Namely, the inhabitants of one state, people, ethnic group. So, we all know that different regions differ in climatic conditions, urbanization processes, nuances of the economy and, of course, cultural features. It will not be a secret to anyone that it is precisely depending on historical features that a special type of personality is formed.
- Mesofactors. These are also social factors that have the greatest effect on a person. So, these are groups of people divided by the type of settlement. That is, we are talking about exactly where the child lives: in a village, town or city. In this case, the ways of communication, the presence of subcultures (the most important stage in the process of personal autonomy), the features of a particular place of settlement are of great importance. It is also worth noting that regional differences can affect a person in completely different ways.
- Microfactors. Well, the last group of factors that affect a person to the greatest extent is family, microsocium, home, neighborhood, upbringing, as well as attitude to religion.
Socialization agents
The upbringing and socialization of the child takes place under the influence of the so-called agents. Who are they? So, socialization agents are those institutions or groups, thanks to which the child assimilates certain norms, values and rules of behavior.
- Individuals. These are people who are in direct contact with the child in the process of education and training. Parents, relatives, friends, teachers, neighbors, etc.
- Certain institutions. These are kindergartens, schools, additional development groups, circles, etc. That is, those institutions that also affect the child in one way or another.
Here it must also be said that there is a division into primary and secondary socialization. The role of agents in such cases will vary significantly.
- So, in early childhood, up to three years, the most important role as agents of socialization is assigned to individuals: parents, grandparents and the immediate environment of the baby. That is, those people who have been in contact with him since birth and in the first years of life.
- From 3 to 8 years old, other agents come into work, for example, a kindergarten or other educational institution. Here, the upbringing of the child, in addition to the immediate environment, is influenced by educators, nannies, doctors, etc.
- In the period from 8 to 18 years, the personality of a person is greatly influenced by the media: television, the Internet.
Early socialization of children
As mentioned above, the process of socialization of children consists of two main stages: primary and secondary socialization. Now I want to talk about the first most important point.
So, in the process of (primary) early socialization, it is the family that is of the utmost importance. Just born, the baby is helpless and still completely unprepared for life in a new world for him. And only parents and other close relatives help him adapt in the very first time. It is worth noting that the child after birth not only grows and develops, but also socializes. After all, he absorbs into himself what he sees around: how parents communicate with each other, what and how they say. It will reproduce through the crumb time. And if they say about the child that it is harmful, it is first of all necessary to reproach not the baby, but the parents. After all, only they provoke their child to such behavior. If the parents are calm, do not communicate in high tones and do not scream, the baby will be the same. Otherwise, the children become moody, nervous, hot-tempered. This is the nuances of socialization. That is, the child believes that in a similar way and you need to behave in the future in society. What will he do over time in the kindergarten, on the street, in the park or on a visit.
What is she, the socialization of the child in the family? If you make a small conclusion, then all parents need to be reminded: we must not forget that the child absorbs everything that he sees in the family. And this he will carry into his life in the future.
A few words about dysfunctional families
Successful socialization of children is possible only if the agents comply with socially acceptable standards. This is where the problem of dysfunctional families arises . So, this is a special, structural-functional type of family, which is characterized by a low social status in various spheres of life. It is worth noting that such a family very rarely performs the functions assigned to it for a number of reasons: primarily economic, but also pedagogical, social, legal, medical, psychological, etc. It is here that all kinds of problems of socialization of children most often arise.
Facilities
The process of socialization is so complicated that it includes multiple nuances and elements. So, separately, it is also necessary to consider various means of socializing children. What is it about then? This is a set of necessary elements that are specific to each individual society, social layer, as well as age. So, these are, for example, methods of care and feeding a newborn, the formation of hygienic and living conditions, the products of the material and spiritual culture that surround the child, a set of both positive and negative sanctions in the event of a particular act. All this is the most important means of socialization, thanks to which the child learns all kinds of norms of behavior, as well as the values that others are trying to instill in him.
The mechanisms
Understanding how the child’s personality is socialized, it is also worth paying attention to the mechanisms of its work. So, in science they are distinguished by two main ones. The first of them is socio-pedagogical. This mechanism includes:
- The traditional mechanism. This is the child's assimilation of the norms of behavior, attitudes and stereotypes that are characteristic of his immediate environment: family and relatives.
- Institutional In this case, the influence on the child of the most diverse social institutions with which he interacts in the process of his development is involved.
- Stylized. Here we are already talking about the influence of subculture or other characteristics (for example, religious) on the development of the child.
- Interpersonal. The child learns the norms of behavior, principles through communication with certain people.
- Reflective. This is a more complex mechanism of self-identification of oneself as a unit of a large whole, the ratio of itself and the world around it.
Another major mechanism of child socialization is the socio-psychological one. In science, it is divided into the following elements:
- Suppression. This is the process of excluding feelings, thoughts, desires.
- Insulation. When a child tries to get rid of unwanted thoughts or feelings.
- Projection. Transferring certain norms of behavior and values to another person.
- Identification. In the process, her child correlates with other people, the collective, the group.
- Introjection. Transferring by a child to himself the attitudes of another person: authority, idol.
- Empathy. The most important mechanism of empathy.
- Self-deception. The child knows about the incorrectness of his thoughts and judgments.
- Sublimation. A useful mechanism for transferring a need or desire into a socially acceptable reality.
"Complex" children
Separately, you need to say a few words about how the socialization of children with disabilities takes place (that is, with disabilities). Initially, it should be noted that the primary socialization of the crumbs is crucial here, that is, everything that will happen at home. If parents treat a child with special needs as a full member of society, secondary socialization will not be as difficult as it can be. Of course, there will be difficulties, because special children are often negatively or simply wary of peers. They are not treated as equals, which extremely negatively affects the formation of the child’s personality. It is worth noting that the socialization of children with disabilities should be almost the same as in the case of the most ordinary healthy baby. However, additional funds may be required. The main problems that may arise along such a path:
- Insufficient amount of necessary aids for full socialization (elementary, lack of ramps in schools).
- Lack of attention and communication, if we are talking about children in HIA.
- Shortcomings at the stage of early socialization of such children, when they begin to perceive themselves completely different from what they should be.
It is also important to note that in this case, specially trained teachers should work with the children, who are able to take into account the needs and, most importantly, the capabilities of such special children.
Children without parents
Orphans deserve special attention when considering the stages of socialization of such a child. Why? It's simple, because for such kids, the primary institution of socialization is not the family, as it should be, but a special institution - the baby’s house, orphanage, and boarding school. It is worth noting that this gives rise to multiple problems. So, initially such crumbs completely in the wrong way begin to perceive life as it is. That is, from a very early age, the child begins to make himself a certain model of behavior and subsequent life according to the type that he sees at the moment. Also, the process of education and training of orphans is completely different. Such crumbs are paid much less personal attention, they receive less bodily heat, affection and care from a very young age. And all this strictly affects the attitude and the formation of personality. Specialists have long been saying that graduates of such institutions - boarding schools, as a result turn out to be poorly self-sufficient, unable to live in society outside the walls of educational institutions. They do not have the basic skills and abilities that will allow you to properly manage your household, manage material resources and even your own time.
Socialization of the kid in the kindergarten
How does a child socialize in a preschool educational institution? It is worth recalling that in this case we will talk about secondary socialization. That is, various educational institutions that rigorously affect a person’s life come into work. So, in the kindergarten the main role is played by the learning process of the baby. It is for this that specialists develop a wide variety of educational programs that educators must follow. Their goals:
- Creation of positive conditions for the development of children (choice of motivation, the creation of one or another behavioral form).
- Thinking over the types and forms of pedagogical activity. That is, it is important to make classes so that, for example, they form a positive attitude towards the world, self-esteem, the need for empathy, etc.
- It is also important to be able to determine the level of development of each child in order to be able to work with each baby according to his needs and capabilities.
The most important element is the socialization of the child. The program, which will be chosen by the employees of the preschool educational institution for this, is also a special and crucial moment. It is from this that much in the subsequent education of the crumbs can envy.
Children's and adult socialization: features
Having examined the features of socialization of children, I also want to compare everything with similar processes in adults. What are the differences?
- If we talk about adults, then in the process of socialization, a person changes behavior. In children, the adjustment of basic values takes place.
- Adults are able to evaluate what is happening. Kids just absorb information, pricelessly.
- An adult is able to distinguish not only “white” and “black”, but also various shades of “gray”. Such people understand how to behave at home, at work, in the team, playing certain roles. The child simply submits to adults, fulfilling their requirements and wishes.
- Adults in the process of socialization master certain skills. It is also worth noting that only a conscious adult is subject to the processes of resocialization. In children, socialization only forms motivation for a certain behavior.
If socialization fails ...
It so happens that the conditions of socialization of the child are completely inappropriate and inconsistent with generally accepted requirements. This can be compared to a shot: the process has begun, but it does not achieve the desired goal. Why is socialization sometimes unsuccessful?
- Some experts are ready to argue that there is a connection with mental illness and unsuccessful socialization.
- Socialization is also unsuccessful if the child undergoes these processes at an early age, not in the family, but in various institutions: a boarding school, a baby’s house.
- One of the reasons for the unsuccessful socialization is the hospitalization of the kids. That is, if the child spends a lot of time in the walls of hospitals. Experts argue that the processes of socialization in such children are also violated and do not comply with generally accepted standards.
- Well, and, of course, socialization can be unsuccessful in the event of too strong influence on the baby's media, television or the Internet.
To the question of resocialization
Having examined various social factors - the driving forces of the child's socialization process, it is also worth a few words to say about such a problem as resocialization. As mentioned above, these processes are not subject to children. , . , - . . , . , .
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