Many factors can influence the growth and development process of the child, both externally and internally. One of the internal factors whose role cannot be denied is the environment. Understanding the environment where the child is raised can help you provide the best care to ensure an optimal growth and development as well as detect potential issues for the child. The environmental factor plays a role in the development of cognitive function and social emotion of the child. Cognitive function refers to the ability of the child to process, store, and reuse all sensory inputs appropriately. Cognitive function includes elements for attention, memory, speech, motor, planning, and executive functions. Below are several examples of environmental factors that can influence the growth and development of the child:

• Emotional Bond between Parents and Their Child The first and main environment in the life of a child is the family at home. The personality of the child is formed since birth by observing and feeling the emotions around them. The bond between parents and their child will help them understand as well a learn how to express their feelings and interact with others.
• Relationship Quality between Parents A good relationship and communication between parents will affect the emotional development of the child. How parents interact with, care for, and respect each other will help the child to understand the importance of appreciating one another. A study conducted by Gene H. Brody et al. (Department of Child and Family Development and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia) found that families that are not harmonious are more likely to influence a child in becoming ignorant, unhelpful, and unable to control their emotions.
• Financial Condition of the Family This issue relates to the welfare of the child. The financial condition of the family will determine where they live and where the child goes to school. The child will observe how parents obtain their incomes and learn the spending patterns and lifestyle of the family. It is important for parents to teach a lifestyle that suits the financial condition of the family and how to separate between needs and wants, so that the child grows to become an individual that can appreciate hard work and not be consumptive.
• Settlement Situation The living environment situation and quality of relationship with neighbors can also impact the behavior of the child. Living in a crowded and noisy area may negatively impact the personality of the child, as they are more at risk of experiencing stress.

Therefore, how large is the influence of environmental factors that can trigger stress on the growth and development of the child? A study conducted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 17,000 adult respondents showed that those who experience stress during childhood had twice the risk of heart and vascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and earlier age of death compared to those who did not experience stress. The stress experienced by respondents in this study occurred due to family violence, child abuse, and neglect. Each moment experienced by the child is a new learning point for them. What they experience, see, or hear is also stored in their memory and will become a benchmark for their behaviour and actions in the future. Therefore, it is important to consider the environmental factors as these will affect their emotional and social development.