This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the influence of families and other factors on the development of children.
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Child Development
Although families have influence on a children’s development, factors outside the home play a bigger part in their lives nowadays.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
Many today feel that the home no longer plays the largest role in child development. In my opinion, though outside factors have become increasingly invasive, family life is still more influential.
Those who believe children these days are largely shaped by the outside world often focus on the expanding importance of technology. Decades ago, it was more common for families to engage in conversation throughout the day, at dinner, and during holidays. Today, each family member might be more engaged with their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For example, children now have constant access to streaming video sites like YouTube. Instead of watching cartoons for an hour a day on television, they can watch shows all day long, both in and outside the home. The result is that kids often find niche channels and parents have a difficult time monitoring and keeping up with the appropriacy of their interests and influences.
Nonetheless, family life remains the heart of early psychological development. Children are unlikely to have much access to new technology in their early years when researchers say the majority of personality formation occurs. If parents are strict, unforgiving and withhold their love then children begin to either turn inwards feeling rejected or strive compulsively for their parent’s esteem. These early, learned behaviours will manifest themselves in progressively more unhealthy behaviours and evolve as the child matures. Conversely, a child who is loved unconditionally but given honest feedback from their parents has a much greater chance of becoming a well-adjusted adult with strong role models to imitate.
In conclusion, despite the ubiquity of technology today, family is the key catalyst in early development. Regardless of changes in society, parents will continue to be the main influence for their children in the foreseeable future.
Analysis
1. Many today feel that the home no longer plays the largest role in child development. 2. In my opinion, though outside factors have become increasingly invasive, family life is still more influential.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write your opinion clearly. Read more about introductions on IELTS here.
1. Those who believe children these days are largely shaped by the outside world often focus on the expanding importance of technology. 2. Decades ago, it was more common for families to engage in conversation throughout the day, at dinner, and during holidays. 3. Today, each family member might be more engaged with their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. 4. For example, children now have constant access to streaming video sites like YouTube. 5. Instead of watching cartoons for an hour a day on television, they can watch shows all day long, both in and outside the home. 6. The result is that kids often find niche channels and parents have a difficult time monitoring and keeping up with the appropriacy of their interests and influences.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea or begin an example.
- Develop your idea – don’t switch to a new one.
- Give specific examples.
- Develop or state the results of the examples.
- Continue developing and relate it back to overall essay topic.
1. Nonetheless, family life remains the heart of early psychological development. 2. Children are unlikely to have much access to new technology in their early years when researchers say the majority of personality formation occurs. 3. If parents are strict, unforgiving and withhold their love then children begin to either turn inwards feeling rejected or strive compulsively for their parent’s esteem. 4. These early, learned behaviours will manifest themselves in progressively more unhealthy behaviours and evolve as the child matures. 5. Conversely, a child who is loved unconditionally but given honest feedback from their parents has a much greater chance of becoming a well-adjusted adult with strong role models to imitate.
- Write another topic sentence with a main idea for the other side.
- Explain your main idea.
- Use a hypothetical example if you don’t know a real one.
- Develop the example.
- Continue developing it and stating the end results.
1. In conclusion, despite the ubiquity of technology today, family is the key catalyst in early development. 2. Regardless of changes in society, parents will continue to be the main influence for their children in the foreseeable future.
- Summarise your ideas and repeat your opinion.
- Add a final thought/detail. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many today feel that the home no longer plays the largest role in child development. In my opinion, though outside factors have become increasingly invasive, family life is still more influential.
Those who believe children these days are largely shaped by the outside world often focus on the expanding importance of technology. Decades ago, it was more common for families to engage in conversation throughout the day, at dinner, and during holidays. Today, each family member might be more engaged with their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For example, children now have constant access to streaming video sites like YouTube. Instead of watching cartoons for an hour a day on television, they can watch shows all day long, both in and outside the home. The result is that kids often find niche channels and parents have a difficult time monitoring and keeping up with the appropriacy of their interests and influences.
Nonetheless, family life remains the heart of early psychological development. Children are unlikely to have much access to new technology in their early years when researchers say the majority of personality formation occurs. If parents are strict, unforgiving and withhold their love then children begin to either turn inwards feeling rejected or strive compulsively for their parent’s esteem. These early, learned behaviours will manifest themselves in progressively more unhealthy behaviours and evolve as the child matures. Conversely, a child who is loved unconditionally but given honest feedback from their parents has a much greater chance of becoming a well-adjusted adult with strong role models to imitate.
In conclusion, despite the ubiquity of technology today, family is the key catalyst in early development. Regardless of changes in society, parents will continue to be the main influence for their children in the foreseeable future.
Answers
plays the largest role do the most
child development how a kid grows up
outside factors not limited to the home
increasingly invasive more and more influential
influential have an impact
largely shaped mostly molded by
the outside world not in the home
expanding importance more and more important
decades ago 20+ years ago
engage in take part in
family member a person in your family
engaged with interacting with
constant access can use any time
streaming video sites Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, etc.
all day long the whole day
niche channels not very popular, odd videos
monitoring supervising
keeping up with knowing about
appropriacy if they should/shouldn’t be watching them
remains the heart of still crucial
psychological development how their brain, emotions develop
unlikely probably won’t happen
access can get
early years when young
majority most of
personality formation how their temperament develops
occurs happens
strict harsh
unforgiving do not forgive, not lenient
withhold not give
turn inwards become introverted
rejected feel spurned
strive compulsively try very hard
parent’s esteem parent’s opinion of them
learned behaviours habits
manifest appear as
progressively more and more
evolve change over time
matures become older, more adult
conversely in contrast
unconditionally without strings attached
honest feedback honest opinion
greater chance more likely
well-adjusted adult normal person
strong role models someone to look up to
imitate copy
ubiquity everywhere
key catalyst chief cause
regardless of nonetheless
continue to be still remain
foreseeable future as far as we can see in the future
Pronunciation
pleɪz ðə ˈlɑːʤɪst rəʊl
ʧaɪld dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ˈfæktəz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɪnˈveɪsɪv
ˌɪnflʊˈɛnʃəl
ˈlɑːʤli ʃeɪpt
ði ˌaʊtˈsaɪd wɜːld
ɪksˈpændɪŋ ɪmˈpɔːtəns
ˈdɛkeɪdz əˈgəʊ
ɪnˈgeɪʤ ɪn
ˈfæmɪli ˈmɛmbə
ɪnˈgeɪʤd wɪð
ˈkɒnstənt ˈæksɛs
ˈstriːmɪŋ ˈvɪdɪəʊ saɪts
ɔːl deɪ lɒŋ
niːʃ ˈʧænlz
ˈmɒnɪtərɪŋ
ˈkiːpɪŋ ʌp wɪð
əˈprəʊprɪɪt siː
rɪˈmeɪnz ðə hɑːt ɒv
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ʌnˈlaɪkli
ˈæksɛs
ˈɜːli jɪəz
məˈʤɒrɪti
ˌpɜːsəˈnælɪti fɔːˈmeɪʃən
əˈkɜːz
strɪkt
ˌʌnfəˈgɪvɪŋ
wɪðˈhəʊld
tɜːn ˈɪnwədz
rɪˈʤɛktɪd
straɪv kəmˈpʌlsɪvli
ˈpeərənts ɪsˈtiːm
lɜːnt bɪˈheɪvjəz
ˈmænɪfɛst
prəʊˈgrɛsɪvli
ɪˈvɒlv
məˈtjʊəz
ˈkɒnvɜːsli
ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃənli
ˈɒnɪst ˈfiːdbæk
ˈgreɪtə ʧɑːns
wɛl-əˈʤʌstɪd ˈædʌlt
strɒŋ rəʊl ˈmɒdlz
ˈɪmɪteɪt
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪti
kiː ˈkætəlɪst
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs ɒv
kənˈtɪnju(ː) tuː biː
fɔːˈsiːəbl ˈfjuːʧə
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many today feel that the home no longer p______________________e in c___________________________t. In my opinion, though o____________________s have become i_______________________e, family life is still more i__________________l.
Those who believe children these days are l_______________d by t_______________________d often focus on the e_________________________e of technology. D___________________o, it was more common for families to e______________n conversation throughout the day, at dinner, and during holidays. Today, each f___________________r might be more e________________h their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. For example, children now have c____________________s to s___________________s like YouTube. Instead of watching cartoons for an hour a day on television, they can watch shows a___________________________g, both in and outside the home. The result is that kids often find n__________________s and parents have a difficult time m_______________g and k_________________h the a__________________y of their interests and influences.
Nonetheless, family life r_________________________f early p_______________________t. Children are u______________y to have much a___________s to new technology in their e________________s when researchers say the m__________y of p______________________n o__________s. If parents are s____________t, u________________g and w__________d their love then children begin to either t_________________s feeling r____________d or s____________________y for their p_________________m. These early, l_____________________s will m____________t themselves in p___________________y more unhealthy behaviours and e_____________e as the child m________________s. C________________y, a child who is loved u__________________y but given h__________________k from their parents has a much g_________________e of becoming a w_____________________t with s_________________s to i_________e.
In conclusion, despite the u_____________y of technology today, family is the k_______________t in early development. R________________f changes in society, parents will c_________________e the main influence for their children in the f______________________e.
Listening Practice
Learn about attachment theory below:
Reading Practice
Read here about the influence of technology on children:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3170902/
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the actual IELTS speaking exam:
Friends
Do you think you are a good friend to others?
Do you still have some friends from your childhood?
Has the types of friends you make changed a lot?
What makes for a good friend?
IELTS Speaking Exam
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic then check with my sample answer below:
Many parents encourage young people to leave home when they become older, while others think they should stay at home with the family.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam
I have lots of confusion regarding the first paragraph. It says in the introduction that you are disagreed by saying you think family life is more important. Then why we need to focus on the “outside world” in the first paragraph while our main idea which shows our stand is in the second paragraph. Please if you can clear on this part. Thank You
Hi Tanmay,
I always recommend that you write about both sides. This way you won’t repeat the same main idea.
Write about the side you don’t agree with first and then the one that you agree with and summarise in your conclusion.
Read more about it here https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-writing-task-2-structure-discuss-both-sides-essay/
Thank you for your time and efforts. Please check the summery I have made below and let me know if it is perfect or needs any modification. Thank You
Writing Formats:
1. Discuss both the sides (+ give your opinion):
Or
Discuss if advantages outweigh disadvantages:
– Intro + (opinion)
– B1 – Discuss 1 side
– B2 – Discuss another side
– Conclusion + (opinion)
2. Agree or Disagree:
– Intro + opinion (Agree or Disagree or partially agree/disagree)
– B1 – Discuss 1st reason to support your argument
– B2 – Discuss 2nd reason to support your argument
– Conclusion + opinion
3. Problem/Solution or Causes/effects:
– Intro
– B1 (Problems/Causes)
– B2 (Solutions/effects)
– Conclusion
4. 2 questions essay:
– Intro + opinion
– B1 (Answer to 1st question)
– B2 (explain with your view – positive or negative)
– Conclusion + opinion
Sorry for the late reply (I was on holiday)!
Those seem right to me but I think it can be even simpler: just write about both sides and give your opinion.
That applies to every question.
For problem/solution, deal with each in a different paragraph.
For 2 part questions, write about both questions.
Simple!