While parents obviously play a major role in the way that their child develops as they get older, many people believe that social factors outside of the family now influence children much more. This essay will examine both sides of the argument.
There is no doubt that there are factors external to the family that significantly impact on a child’s development. For example, there is television and the internet. Children these days have access to these much more than they used to in the past, and they will pick up language and see things that will teach them about life. Friends also have an important influence as a child will often copy peers that they admire and respect. This could be positive behaviour but it could also be negative, such as smoking or taking drugs. Ultimately, however, it is family who have the most important impact. Children spend nearly all of their time with their family, especially in their early years. They develop their confidence, socialisation skills, morals, values and views on life through their interaction with them. Proof of the importance of this can be seen in the differences between some children. Those that grow up in a dysfunctional home often eventually have problems themselves, whilst those that are brought up in a warm and close environment end up more confident and secure in adult life.
o conclude, it is the family that can provide a supportive, secure, and nurturing environment, which is crucial to the way in which a child becomes an adult. Although it is clear that social factors play a part, I would argue that it is the former that is the most important. 
While parents  
obviously
 play a major role in the way that their  
child
 develops as they  
get
 older,  
many
  people
 believe that social factors  
outside of
 the  
family
  now
 influence  
children
 much more. This essay will examine both sides of the argument.
There is no doubt that there are factors external to the  
family
 that  
significantly
 impact on a  
child’s
 development.  
For example
, there is television and the internet.  
Children
 these days have access to these much more than they  
used
 to in the past, and they will pick up language and  
see
 things that will teach them about life. Friends  
also
 have an  
important
 influence as a  
child
 will  
often
 copy peers that they admire and respect. This could be  
positive
  behaviour
  but
 it could  
also
 be  
negative
, such as smoking or taking drugs.  
Ultimately
,  
however
, it is  
family
 who have the most  
important
 impact.  
Children
 spend  
nearly
 all of their time with their  
family
,  
especially
 in their early years. They develop their confidence,  
socialisation
  skills
, morals, values and views on life through their interaction with them. Proof of the importance of this can be  
seen
 in the differences between  
some
  children
. Those that grow up in a dysfunctional home  
often
  eventually
 have problems themselves, whilst those that  
are brought
 up in a warm and close environment  
end
 up more confident and secure in adult life. 
o
 conclude, it is the  
family
 that can provide a supportive, secure, and nurturing environment, which is crucial to the way in which a  
child
 becomes an adult. Although it is  
clear
 that social factors play a part, I would argue that it is the former  
that is
 the most  
important
.