Parents, of course, will each raise their children a certain way, based on what they believe to be right and wrong. By observing a child at play, it is sometimes possible to get an idea of the parenting styles of that child's mother and/or father. For the child observed by this paper, there was the possibility that she had been the product of a particular kind of raising. Her mother was young, and sat nearby on a park bench. She was within reach, but far enough away that the child had the chance to experience some autonomy. The mother read a book, and was quiet - much like her child. Was that genetics at work, or was it a product of raising, intelligence, or something more? Again, it is all speculation. Parents who strike a good balance between discipline and friendship generally have the most well-adjusted children, but there are exceptions to every parenting rule (Huitt & Hummel, 2003). The child being observed was not a copy of her parent, and she had her own mind, beliefs, and attitude. While she was reserved and so was her mother, it did not appear to be the product of a demand that the child play quietly. There was no appearance of a child who is afraid to make noise, or who feels she has to withdraw to avoid being seen. The little girl looked self-assured. If she was playing quietly, it was because she had no real interest in making noise, not because an adult had ingrained it into her that she was not allowed to make noise or act like a child. How much of that is based on the child's intelligence and how much is based on other factors is difficult to determine without actual interaction with...

Observation alone is not enough to provide a comprehensive assessment.
A quiet child may appear to be a blessing, but quiet, intelligent, self-assured children are not always easy to handle. They can have trouble in other areas of life. They may lack socialization skills, or they may simply have trouble relating to anyone near their age. Children like the little girl observed often prefer the company of adults, and would enjoy quiet, intellectual games instead of something "childish." Some children are simply more difficult to raise than others, but all parents can be successful in that they can give their child what that child needs to succeed (Sears, Maccoby, & Levin, 1957). Understanding childhood development and what phases a child goes through as she gets older allows both parents and educators to respect differences between children and keep them on a path toward successful adulthood. Self-assured, happy children generally become self-assured, happy adults, and the child observed for this paper appeared to be well on her way to that. Her seriousness and apparent intelligence may hurt her when playing with other young children, but it will help her in many other ways.