HEREDITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Heredity means the transference of characteristics of parents to their offspring through genes in the chromosomes. By the heredity of an individual we mean all those inborn physical and mental traits that he inherits from parents and ancestors. Every child comes into this world with certain physical and mental features which he got from his parents. The child starts with a specific type of behaviour and a certain sort of temperament. All these traits, mental and physical constitute his heredity.

By 'Environment' we mean all those physical and mental factors that’ affect and influence the development of the individual. The home, the family, the neighborhood, the peer group, the school and their entire community with their temperaments and mental traits constitute his environment. Everything that influences him apart from his inherited traits constitutes his environment.

No one is responsible for the heredity. We do not choose our parents though parents chose his/her partner. But we should be careful for the environment. It is very important to create and preserve a healthy environment for the children as they grow up. Through the healthy environment the genetic or hereditary factors can be rectified. The Parents are right when they choose a safe school for their children and to monitor the peer group. Parents need to keep vigil without being authoritarian.