Impacts on Early Emotional Development
My city has seen much growth in our immigrant Filipino community over the past several years and as a result, our school communities are also growing in this population. Therefore, I chose to take a closer look at the East Asia and Pacific region in an effort to expand my understanding of the challenges that some of these families may have been exposed to or personally experienced. UNICEF’s regional office website for this area of the world explained that some of the challenges that children face in these countries include nutritional deficiencies as well as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse (UNICEF, 2015).
UNICEF (2015) explains that due to nutritional deficiencies, a minimum of 50% of the children in this region remain stunted. This means that children’s growth is slowed and they do not reach their full potential. This stunting has a direct effect on a child’s physical, social, and cognitive capacity throughout their entire lives (UNICEF, 2015). The Ounce of Prevention Fund (1996) explains that in addition to affecting these developmental domains, a lack of nutrition increases a child’s chance of emotional and behavioural problems. UNICEF (2015) is working to support children by educating families on the benefits of breastfeeding and complementary feeding that should begin at six months of age. UNICEF’s (2015) effort to educate mothers on the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding supports young babies with the necessary nutrition and personal interactions they require for positive physical, social, cognitive and emotional growth. “The emotional experiences of newborns and young infants occur most commonly during periods of interaction with a caregiver (such as feeding)” (The National Scientific council on the Developing Child, 2011, p. 1).
UNICEF (2015) press releases also explain that it is difficult for children who experience abuse to become productive members of society. According to research in Cambodia, over 50% of children experience some type of abuse (UNICEF, 2015). This abuse during childhood results in higher levels of violence, criminal activity, and mental disorders (UNICEF, 2015). The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2011) explains “The emotional health of young children – or the absence of it – is closely tied to the social and emotional characteristics of the environments in which they live” (p. 2). Children in negative environments such as the abuse previously described have a greater risk “for adverse impacts on brain development and later problems with aggression” (National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2011, p. 3). The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2011) goes on to explain “young children who have experienced significant maltreatment exhibit an early childhood equivalent of post-traumatic stress disorder” (p. 3). In addition, The American Academy of Pediatrics (2015) explains that in order for children to develop a healthy self-esteem, they must have a sense of security, belonging, and trust with the important people in their life. When children are in abusive environments that lack these supportive characteristics, children’s emotional wellbeing can be negatively affected. UNICEF’s East Asia and Pacific Regional Office website provides many examples of how UNICEF is working towards reducing these negative experiences for children. Some of these include life skills classes, vocational training, child protection training, and supporting inter-agency networks and programming (UNICEF, 2015).
Gaining an understanding of the challenges that the world’s children face every day leaves me with many emotions. I am filled with compassion for each innocent child that is born into such circumstances, hope in the difference that UNICEF’s efforts will make for some of those children, and impatience in the time it takes to turn things around for an entire community and country. I also felt thankful that I have the continued opportunity to work with young children and their families. Although many of the children and families I work with will never know the struggles of the children and families of East Asia and the Pacific, there will continue to be families in my community that struggle to provide for their families and who experience family abuse. These children equally deserve rights to a safe environment that provides for each of their needs. Understanding the impact of such environments encourages me to continue my work as an advocate for each child within my classroom.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2015). Helping your child develop a healthy sense of self esteem. Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/agesstages/gradeschool/pages/Helping-Your-Child-Develop-A-Healthy-Sense-of-Self-Esteem.aspx
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2011). Children’s emotional development is built into the architecture of their brains. Working Paper No. 2. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp2/
Ounce of Prevention Fund. (1996). Starting smart: How early experiences affect brain development. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED405123.pdf
UNICEF. (2015). East Asia and Pacific. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/eapro/