Developmental domains, such as biosocial development, cognitive development, and psychosocial development, interact and overlap with each other. These overlaps can either enhance or inhibit early childhood development in some or all of the domains. For instance, a child’s biosocial development between the ages of 2 and 6 years of age can render a child vulnerable to physical abuse since at that age they are more prone to impulsivity and are generally dependent on adults (Kathleen Berger, 2009). Physical injury or abuse can inflict the body (biosocial), the psyche or reasoning (cognitive), and the emotional perception of relationships (psychosocial) within a child’s development (2009). Unfortunately, physical injury or abuse is also one of the leading causes of death in the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2007); in 2004 research says that 10.3 children died accidently, 2.5 died of cancer, and 2.4 were murdered out of every 100,000 children between the ages of 1 to 4 years old (2007).
Violence is another stressor that impacts early childhood development. It is my belief that the biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development of children who suffer violence can be severely hampered. The impressionable years of early childhood development can be depicted as a video camera/recorder; the experiences that a child encounters are recorded in the memory of their mind and kept there for further processing until a picture or movie, if you will, is created that gives them a meaning or direction for the development of their life. This processing of experiences is categorized into either their explicit (conscious) memory (Explicit Memory, 2011) or their implicit (unconscious) memory (Implicit Memory, 2011). Early life experiences of adverse proportions can effect children later in the form of teen violence (Science Daily, 2008), promiscuity (Now Public, 2009), and drugs (Pediatrics, 2003).
In other countries, such as Nigeria, violence and child abuse is a way of life. Kenya has 3.5 million child laborers who work under very difficult conditions. Latin America has 17.5 million children working in unsuitable conditions, and the numbers are on the rise. In Santo Domingo more than 400,000 Dominican children must work just to survive (Oracle Think Quest, 2011). Government is currently working with employers of these 4 to 15 year old youth to come up with a solution for child labor. In these kinds of situations, it is my prayer that protective factors (Wested, 2004) will become available that will foster resilience within the course of life for these children who experience such challenges during their early childhood development. References
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers
Dube, S. [Shanta] R., Felitti, V. [Vincent] J., Dong, M. [Maxia], Chapman, D. [Daniel] P., Giles, W. [Wayne H., & Anda, R. [Robert] F. (2003, March). Childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction and the risk of illicit drug use: The adverse childhood experiences study. Pediatrics Vol. 111, pp. 564-572. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/111/3/564
Explicit Memory [Blog Message]. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.crystalinks.com/explicitmemory.html
Implicit Memory [Blog Message]. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.crystalinks.com/implicitmemory.html
Now Public [Web Site]. (2009, August 20). Teen promiscuity has psychological underpinnings. Retrieved from http://www.nowpublic.com/culture/teen-promiscuity-has-psychological-underpinnings
Oracle Think Quest [Web Site]. Retrieved on March 26, 2011, from http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00168/child_abuse.html
Science Daily [Web Site]. (2008, November 17). Cascading effect of childhood experiences may explain serious teen violence. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081114080928.htm
Cymantha,
ReplyDeleteViolence is a stressor in a child's life that I have 0 tolerance for. I hate to see a child suffer from abuse and violence. They are so small and helpless. I love to see children happy and playful.I believe children should enjoy life,and enjoy it to the fullness. I guess that's why I chose this profession. I have a compassion to help people, and make their life better.I seek out to find those protective factors and make sure they are available to help young children.
Violence is something I never tolerated in my life. When you think of a child experiencing violence is a horrible image. I agree with Cymantha, children should be happy and not have to worry about anything in life. I have tears in my eyes thinking about it now. I believe that it does affect the development of the child.
ReplyDelete