Childhood years are the years of greatest growth and learning.

During the early years, a child’s mind develops rapidly, and a child’s ability to learn and adapt to new situations is greatest. As a result, a child’s environment during these years has the greatest influence on him/her.

This statement could not be further from the truth. While children are definitely growing and developing rapidly during those early years, this development pales in comparison to that which a child experiences during the teenage years.

During the early years, a child’s mind develops rapidly, but that does not mean that it is progressing in any specific direction. A child may exhibit some signs of intelligence, but the ability to learn and adapt to new situations is not nearly as great, and a child is still largely at the mercy of his/her parents. As children grow older, they wither away from their parents’ control. As they become teenagers, they begin to develop personalities of their own and become increasingly independent. The years of greatest growth and learning are in the late teen years, when a child is beginning his/her adult life. Adolescence is a time filled with uncertainty and doubt. If a child enters adulthood with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude, his/her chances of being successful are much higher. While a child is still quite young, he/she is at the mercy of his parents. If a child is stubborn or defiant, his parents may give in to those demands. As the child grows older, however, he/she is learning the life skills necessary to survive as an adult. He/she learns about money management, relationships, and many other important subjects. A 12-year-old child may learn to read, but a teenager learns to read and comprehend books, newspapers, and magazines. The teenager is learning to be independent, and this type of learning continues on through college and beyond.

The statement also states that a child’s environment during these years has the most influence on him/her. While this is true to a certain extent, a child’s environment during his/her teenage years has a greater influence on him/her than during any other period. The teenager has the greatest opportunity to make bad choices. If a child begins to have relationships with the wrong people, he/she may learn how to lie and cheat; if the child begins to use drugs, he/she may learn how to manipulate him or herself. These choices will have a profound impact on the child’s adult life, and the parents may not be able to steer their child away from the pitfalls that lie ahead. Parents may encourage their children to think about the consequences of their actions, but these lessons are most effectively learned during adolescence.

The statement also implies that the teenage years are the most important years of a person’s life. While this is true to a certain extent, the teenage years are not the only years that matter. A person’s later life is also influenced by his/her early years. During a child’s teenage years, the lifelong lessons that he learned beginning in kindergarten are reinforced. These lessons include the value of hard work, the importance of education, and the value of keeping promises. In college, a student is exposed to many other ideas and values, and this exposure is crucial for a healthy adult. If a child is too busy partying or engaging in other irresponsible behavior, his/her education may be compromised, and this can have a negative impact on his/her career. In addition, a child’s early years are when most relationships are formed. If a child learns about the importance of fidelity during this time, he/she is likely to experience love and happiness throughout adulthood. If a child learns about disloyalty during his/her teenage years, he/she is likely to be disappointed in love throughout adulthood.

The statement also implies that a child’s early years are the most important years of a person’s life. While this may be true to some extent, a person’s early years do not influence his/her adult life in the way that his/her teenage years do. A young child does not have the ability to make major life decisions, and his parents cannot prevent him from making poor decisions. If a child begins to use drugs or alcohol, the parents may be able to persuade him/her not to use drugs, but the parents cannot control his/her life. During adolescence, a child is learning to make major life decisions. A teenager has the opportunity to go to college, get a job, or join the military; he has the opportunity to choose his own spouse and have children. If a child is not living within his/her financial means, his parents may not be able to control his/her lifestyle, and the teenager will have to face the consequences of his actions. For these reasons, the teenage years are more important than the early years.