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What is Child Development? Child development can include a number of different things: from emotional and psychological development, through to self esteem, self respect, or how children cope with and react to difficult situations. How a child develops can have an important impact upon their lives as children, young people and adults. Opportunities to develop High quality, safe and stimulating opportunities in children’s lives can improve children's personal development and health, giving them the freedom and independence to learn valuable lessons in life. These opportunities, such as play groups, youth groups/clubs, sports activities, day trips or outdoor activities, not only help children to develop their personalities and self esteem but also play an important role in their awareness of their place in the world. Research shows that children also need time and space away from adults and parents for emotional development too. Playing together encourages children to understand and respect difference. It encourages their curiosity and creativity, gives them a sense of self control, which is so important for building resilience in life, and makes them more confident. Information about child development This page gives you some information about child development issues for different ages groups and gives you advice about resilience and how important being resilient (able to deal with stress and trauma) is to the development of children and adults.
Young children 0-5 The early years of a child's life are crucial for cognitive, social and emotional development, i.e. how and when they learn language, social skills, reading ability, develop a strong sense of self and confidence, how well they sleep, the pre-school play and education they get. Therefore, it is important that we take every step we can to ensure that children grow up in environments where their social, emotional and educational needs are met. Speak to your Health Visitor, GP, visit your local Children’s Centre or see the links below for more information and advice which can help you and help your child develop to their full potential. Children 6-11 When children reach the age of 6 their experiences of the world begin to widen and they start to meet and mix with more children of their same age and start to experience more of the community and world around them. Some of the issues which now become important and influence their development include, any anxiety or fears they may have, their confidence, self esteem, what they do and the activities they are involved in out of school, exercise and play, how they behave and interact with others and the experiences they have at school and with the children and people they meet. Speak to your child’s Primary School, local Children’s Centre, GP or see the links below for more information and advice which can help you and help your child. Young people 12-15 As children get older and begin their journey into the teenage years, the influences and motivations in their lives begin to change dramatically. Young people become far more vulnerable to ideas about how they look, come under pressure from peers and friends and begin to find ways of being accepted and gaining respect from others. These pressures, in some cases, can lead to a range of behaviours which can affect their self esteem and confidence, i.e. eating disorders, anger management, drugs and alcohol, sexuality and sexual health, crime and bullying. Other pages on this website aim to offer parents and carers with advice and information which can help. Identify who and where you can access advice and information and who you could speak to and get support from in dealing with a range of different issues. The young people’s section of this website also provides advice and information directly for young people. Alternatively you could contact the Youth Advice Centre, Young People’s Centre or Safe and Sorted for more information and advice which can help and inform parents and carers about issues and lifestyle factors which can affect young people’s development. Young People 16+ When young people turn 16 they start their journey to becoming young adults and the experiences they have of the world begin to reflect this change. Young people aged 16 plus rely less and less on their parents and family for support as they begin a path into higher education, into work and jobs and begin to experience the world out on their own. Again, other pages on this website aim to offer parents and carers advice and information which can help. Identify who and where you can access advice and information and who you could speak to and get support from in dealing with a range of different issues. The young people’s section of this website also provides advice and information directly for young people. Alternatively you could contact the Youth Advice Centre, Young People’s Centre or Safe and Sorted for more information and advice which can help and inform parents and carers about issues and lifestyle factors which can affect young people’s development. The importance of resilience Day in and day out, children all over the world face situations that can cause stress and trauma. Some face situations such as divorce, bullying, abuse or illness while others confront catastrophes — such as war, poverty, disease, famine or floods. Whether such experiences crush or strengthen an individual child depends, in part, on his or her resilience. ‘Compared to non-resilient children, a resilient child can resist adversity, cope with uncertainty, and recover more successfully from traumatic events or episodes.’ (Barnardo’s 2001) Therefore, resilience is the capacity to resist or "bounce back" from adversities or bad experiences. Resilience is important because it is the human capacity to face, overcome and be strengthened by or even transformed by the adversities of life. Everyone faces adversities. But with resilience, children can triumph over trauma; without it, trauma (adversity) triumphs. The crises children face both within their families and in their communities can overwhelm them. While outside help is essential in times of trouble, it isn’t enough on its own. Along with food and shelter, children need love and trust, hope and freedom. Along with safe havens, they need safe relationships that can foster friendships and commitment. They need the loving support and self-confidence, the faith in themselves and their world, all of which builds resilience. How parents and caregivers respond to situations, and how they help a child to respond, separates those adults who promote resilience in their children from those who destroy resilience or send confusing messages that both promote and inhibit resilience. Resilient children are better equipped to resist stress and adversity, cope with change and uncertainty, and to recover faster and more completely from traumatic events or episodes. Key messages about resilience
For more information about Resilience www.voicesforchildren.ca/report-Nov2003-1.htm The Voice for Children website gives you lots of information about resilience and how this can help and support children throughout their lives. The website offers information about how to promote resilience and teach children to look at events in their lives in a positive way and how we can promote resilience through thinking in different ways about things that happen. http://resilnet.uiuc.edu/library/grotb95b.html#chapter1 This website also explains what resilience is, how the factors in children’s lives can help promote resilience and what parents and children can do to become more resilient and help deal with potentially negative experiences in their lives. Downloads 10 ways to build resilience: This download provides more information about resilience and the key elements which help children increase their resilience and inner strength. What parents & carers can do to help build resilience: This download gives parents and carers key tips on what they can do to help build resilience in children. Promoting Resilience in Children: What Parents Can Do Information for Families: This download, aimed at parents and carers, also provides further information regarding resilience, including advice and information about promoting resilience in children and what parents and families can do. Links www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/241.asp This website offers a range of young people’s views and experiences of growing up. It provides insight which can help parents when dealing with the stress and dilemmas of the emerging young person and the changes which can happen in family relationships. www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/adolescence.html This website provides parents and carers with a ‘parents guide to surviving the teen years’. www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/ The raising kids website offers a range of information, advice and support to parents, carers and families about a variety of issues relating to children and young people. www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/your_kids/ |
