Every country has families living in poverty. With this global pandemic, I know a lot of parents have lost their jobs, and it’s really hard to find a new job.
When a child is born, they do not choose their families dependending on their social status, how many money they have in their bank account. God will take care of that child.
I know children who has to work instead of going to school, when actually only the education can save you from poverty.
Some children drop off the school to work, or they get married (early marriage). I know hundreds of girls between the age of 12 and 18 and they already have children, and a partner, they became mature before their time. In a village, is a girl and she is 13, she gave birth to her son last year, the kid has a father and they live together in a tiny room, the community, parents, family they all are aware of this situation, but they normalize it and say nothing about it. Now, how many chances has that child to go to school, and have a job? I think the child most likely will copy the parents behavior, and will take them like a role model.
When the kid will start school in that village, the teacher will give him no changes of higher education, probably will avoid going to his desk and look into his work, ask if we understood the lesson, and so on. The parents, do not have themselves education, so what happens to the child? He will fall into the poverty cycle. Believe me, I am talking the true, true cases, I have seen them with my eyes.
Poverty is all around the globe, some children have no food with days, no access to education, or a bright future.
These children needs people who cares about them, not people who cares about their pockets. Try to help a poor family, and do not judge them.
Like I said before, all my work experience (5 years) it’s about childcare, working with teens, and social work. I love to work with children, especially to make a difference in their lives, I watch them growing and developing.
Children develop quickly in the early years, and the persons around them have to do all they can to help children have the best possible start in life.
From early on, babies produce responses – such as smiling and crying, cooing. Infants can smile and cry. Initially these are reflexes but parents typically respond as if they were intentional communications. So the infant learns the social consequences of crying and smiling.
Birth – 11 months:
Enjoys the company of others and seeks contact with others from birth
Baby can respond when talked to, for example, moves arms and legs, changes facial expressions
Seeks physical and emotional comfort by snuggling in to trusted adults
Can recognise and react to Mom’s voice for example
Stops and looks when hears own voice
Makes own sounds in response when talked to by familiar adults
Baby can turn head in response to sounds and sights
Makes movements with arms and legs which gradually become more controlled.
From 12 months to 24 months:
Between 1-2 years old, they are developing important fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Their balance, climbing, speaking and running will develop rapidly. It’s the transformation time, you will see the baby transforming from a baby to more a toddler.
1–year-old will begin to try and become independent in many ways.
gross motor skills: Most babies take their first steps before 12 months and are walking on their own by the time they’re 14 or 15 months old.
Fine motor skills: By 24 months, your little one can likely drink from a cup, eat with a spoon, and help get undressed.
Explores new toys and environments, but will checks in regularly with a a familiar adult as and when needed
Demonstrates sense of self as an individual, e.g. wants to do things independently, says ”NO” to adults.
Also they can have tantrums.
Their vocabulary will count many easy words.
Notice: Children develop at their own pace, so don’t worry if your child doesn’t do what your neighbour child does. As a parent, you know your child best.
Growing up with both parents is a blessing, but what is like for a child to grow up with a single parent?
When getting married you do not think it will last 1. month or 5 years but ”till death do us part”, but there are some parents who decide to break the vow sooner. There are a lot of reasons why the parents divorce. When the marriage come to an end the parents are now fighting for the custody ( well, some of them).
Which are the effects of divorce
I will say the first 6 months – 1 year is the most difficult time
The kids might suffer anxiety, distress, anger, abandoned, and can have suicidal thoughts (depends on their age).
There is a huge emotional impact on young children, they can blame themselves about the situation, or they may think that the parents are not loving them.
Children from divorced families may experience more externalising problems, such as conduct disorders, children may also experience more conflict with peers after a divorce, poor academic results.
Always tell your children the truth in regards to divorce!
I believe is better to be divorced than staying in a toxic relationship.
It can affect children from birth and left unchecked and unchallenged, can impact negatively on every aspect of a child’s life.
Usually, poor children are located in hard to reach villages, isolated, but not only. In these villages, communities people follow traditions, they copy each others even if it’s bad or good. Sometimes no one is going to these villages to make a difference, and the children grow up and have no future.
I used to live like a disadvantaged kid some years of my life, what was the reason? well, an alcoholic dad and unemployment of both of my parents. I do not condemn them, but I try to understand their actions.
There are a number of reasons why a family may be disadvantaged, and therefore, vulnerable.
Unemployment
Single parent
Low income
Substance abuse…
What are the effects on a child living in poverty?
A child may suffer from:
A poor diet or neglect
Low educational achievement: no school trips, no books, uniform packed lunch, healthy snack
Lack of positive interactions with parents
They might be unable to understand their own emotions and those of others
Poor/dirty clothes, shoes.
The child may have low self esteem
Tensions/fights between parents at home.
The child may experience some types of abuse from parents or family.
At my workplace I am observing many children refusing their food, simply they do not wanna open their mouth or they are pushing away the plate. I am watching them and think how long they will resist that day without food, so we are trying to offer them options, and guess what, they are perfectly fine with plain pasta or a biscuit!
Now, we have to keep in mind that children may refuse a type of food if it’s the first time you give it to them, they need to taste it slowly and a few times to learn to like it, so make sure you are not forcing, pushing the food aggressively in the mouth, most probably they will not like it. Would you like if someone will push the spoon in your mouth, with food you never tried, let’s say…snake meat! yuck!
Also some children may like to be independent and not to be feed, so just let the plate in front of them and observe them without talking, touching their food, try to ”avoid” them. I do have a baby in the nursery that loves to be independent and eat with his own hands.
Toddlers refuse extra food also when they have eaten enough. Do not try to overfeed your toddler,some kids will eat less food than other toddlers of the same age. If your toddler is growing and developing normally then he or she is taking the right quantity of food for his or her own needs!
There is also medical reason why kids refuse to eat. When kids have a well documented medical condition or are visibly sick, it is obvious that their eating can be affected, but sometimes there are more subtle issues. Two of the biggest culprits are acid reflux and constipation. Both of these very common problems for kids can put a halt to eating.
For many “picky eaters”, sensory processing plays a big role in their refusal to eat foods. Simply put, if something feels gross in their mouth or on their hands, they aren’t going to eat it. they may not like certain textures in their mouth, or chew/lick everything else but food, it is a sign that their oral sensory system needs to be looked at.
I always say BE KIND and I truly believe in the meaning of these words!
But, I have noticed that some people sees the kindness like a weak value, something that can be used against you.
I think some persons even think I’m easy to manipulate or a real push-over. I remember a lot of situations when I chose to be kind to a person and let myself down so that person can feel he/she won.
I am sure that God gave me this value and wants me to use it and to be kind, But also I AM SURE He doesn’t wants people to think or treat me as I am a weak person, here is not my problem but their problem. I choose to still show kindness and help people, I believe kindness can transform a heart made of stones into a gold heart full of kindness and compassion!
Learned my lesson, some people will always try to put you down and think they are better than you, and makes you feel weak, especially when they discover your kindness ”weapon”. In these situation I remember these kind of people seek attention, they might be hurt inside, or have no wisdom!
Like bible says in Matthew 5:44, just read, it’s an amazing verse
In these time we all live, feels like it’s the end of the world soon. So if we are all unkind, severe what is going to happen? Next time we meet a kind, compassionate person, try to be nice and think that we all live on this earth we all never know what happens in the next minute, we have to measure our words that comes from our mouth. We all live once, let’s be kind and lovely persons!
What is kindness?
Kindness is a behaviour marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition and consideration for others. It s a virtue, a value which is considered to be one of the knightly virtues.
Physical development is an important area of child development that includes children’s physical growth.
Physical activity is vital from birth and develops not only the body, but minds and emotions too.
P.D. involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food (eyfs).
The department of Health says, children should have at least 3 hours of physical activity, spread out over a day. This doesn’t mean three hours of planned activities, as every movement a child makes, is included, and they move a lot.
Physical Play allows children to understand why being physical and moving around is good for health.
P.P. can help children develop confidence, social interaction with their peers, friendship, control and balance, and also allows children to discover their own bodies ( sweating, redness, fast heart beat, fast breathing, tiredness).
For babies (children under 2) physical activity consists of playing and rolling, they can reach the objects, pull. hold, push.These experiences help use muscles and develop motor skills.
How to introduce P.D to children?
Gross Motor Activities – Talk about the fun of skipping, jumping, climbing, running, rolling. These will help the child to be active during the day. Obesity is a main problem in our days, so keep ypur child involved and active in different activities which promote Physical health.
Fine Motor Activities Give the child opportunity to enjoy these activities; cutting, drawing, holding, pressing, twisting, threading.
When I was a child, I used to like playing with the dolls, but my favourite activities were outdoor with my friends, we used to play a lot of pretend play, my favourite game was to be a reporter, and a saleswoman (girl). I had a lot of money (leafs). We didn’t had many toys as my family was struggling financially. But I am not upset though.
Now let’s talk about the hundreds of toys kids have in these days…can we count it, if you are a parent, just try to count your children’s toys. How many, too many?
Well, I work in a nursery and our kids have a lot of toys too, but sometimes I have observed that they just do wanna play with the toys, but instead they find a cup, stick, spoon, a leaf more interesting.
I know you love your child so much and you want to make them happy, and sometimes it’s easy to make the kids happy, just by buying a toy, but that joy lasts an hour or less. I was an AU PAIR for a family with a 5 years old boy, they were wealthy and they bought a lot of toys for that child, every week there was a brand new toy, Lego, in his hands, do you know how long that child played with the toy, Lego? 1 day, and that was it. The parents spent hundreds of £ practically for a moment of ”new toy happiness”.
Let’s imagine we going in the playroom now, what can you see? Lego everywhere, toys spread all over the floor?
Now is the moment to CLEAN that room. Ask your child what toys are his favourites and which ones he wants to donate to poor children, is the perfect time to teach the child about compassion, giving, sharing. So the ones he/she can give up just donate it and keep the ones they want to play with.
Fewer toys can encourage more creative and imaginative play. When children have fewer toys, they find ways to use them in creative way. Quality and fewer toys are the solution for that messy playroom.
Surveys have shown that a typical child owns 238 toys in total but parents think their child plays with just 12 favourites on a daily basis.
Toys are really good, it helps with their development. But what if instead of buying a new toy we propose to the child an outdoor activity?
What is poverty, how is like to live all your childhood in the poverty, what opportunities has a person once reached the adulthood, what can we do to help poor children?
Poverty is a state condition in which a person or community lack the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that basic human needs can’t be met. Poverty-stricken people and families might go without proper housing, clean water, electricity, food, medical attention, and so on.
Living in poverty like a child is really sad, they might have a sense of hopeless about their future than their more affluent peers. Low income, poor quality housing, debt put children’s mental health at risk.
Imagine the child wakes up in the morning, in a tiny house with no running water, heating, bathroom, electricity, kitchen, no food in the fridge. Just a small room, 1 bed, 1 stove, and nothing else, but that child is preparing to go to school with no breakfast, uniform or not knowing when the next meal comes from. Isn’t this sad? I know people living like this, I used to live similar conditions, but God had his plans for me and my family.
Living in poverty can effect a child in all areas like education, health, personal development. If the child doesn’t have the luck of having good parents, like the ones who understand the importance of education, that child most probably will drop out the school,so the child needs someone who is ready to help him, encourage and send him to school. I have seen in many poor communities this kids of problem, kids dropping out the school and getting married (early marriage), a child which is 13 can give up to school and form a family, so the poverty circle never ends. This is one of the reasons I want to raise a concern about it. The power of example in this communities is strong, children thinks that is normal and they should do the same like others.
Children having children is blossoming,once this, many more problems comes like child abuse, domestic violence, poverty.
Sometimes in these communities comes people ready to help, improve their conditions and give opportunities, some families are ready and open for it, some are not interested. But if you can save 1 child from 100, for me is like gold, means a lot.
I am trying my best to be able, in the future to help poor children, they need a hand of help, they need someone who cares about them. Helping a child to go to school, or to feed, improve living conditions is like saving a life.
What is grace, and how we can give grace to children?
GRACE – receiving a blessing you didn’t earn and don’t deserve
I love the meaning of God’s grace- We deserved punishment but God offered us grace, mercy. He gave His son for us at the cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9
I think a parent gives the children grace after grace everyday. Just think about it (if you have a child), let’s say the child broke a vase, would you scream and punish your kid? No, instead you give forgiveness and love, using nice words with your kid. This is grace. If you want the child to have mercy and to learn the grace of God, show it to them, usually kids learn by observing, kids are very much like sponges, soaking up the experiences they have each and every day.
Here are some ideas/activities for the parents to do with their kiddos.
Teach them about the grace – Read a bible story, for example the the story of prodigal son.
Show them grace – try to understand the reasons behind the actions. Be there, the children needs parents presence, talk with them, love them unconditionally, teach them the right from bad
Talking with kids about grace is so important and wise. Just imagine when that child will grow up, he/she will offer grace to other people, they will be kind, ready to forgive, compassionate and ready to help.
Copiii au fost mereu parte din viața mea, dar munca cu ei a început pe când aveam 5-6 ani, atunci s-a născut unul dintre frații mei, care sunt mulți la număr. No de atunci am fost dădacă, soră, prietenă, mami numarul 2.
Munca cu contract, plătită, am început la vârsta de 19 ani, eram babysitter pentru un băiețel de 1 an jumate.
De atunci am avut doar job-uri în domeniul educației, asistent social, mentor, voluntar la spitalul de copii.
Dar mereu am iubit bebelușii, iubesc să-i văd crescând, făcând primii pași, etc.
Am ajuns în Londra pe 6.10.2018, am fost timp de un 11 luni AU PAIR, pentru un băiețel de 5 ani, iar în prezent lucrez ca educatoare la o grădiniță unde avem copii cu vârste cuprinse între (10 luni-2 ani). Acolo sunt 2 bebeii, ambii de 12 luni, și ambii sunt în grija mea, cum se zice aici sunt their key worker. Practic sunt responsabilă de dezvoltarea, îngrijirea și oferirea de oportunități de calitate în funcție de nevoile lor.
Așadar, de când muncesc în Londra, sunt în continuie învățare pe partea de dezvoltare, îngrijire, educație a copiilor.
Astăzi vreau să împărtășesc cu voi din cursul”de ce mușcă copiii”
Copiii încep să experimenteze mușcatul în jurul vârstei de 1 an, și se opresc, cel mai probabil la 3 ani.
În primul rând trebuie să înțelegem faptul că a mușca este parte din dezvoltarea lor. Atunci când copilul mușcă el știe, se așteaptă la o reacție înapoi, fie de la părinte ori copilul mușcat.
Copiii de multe ori găsesc comunicarea verbală dificilă, prin urmarea comunicare verbală dificilă=mușcătură.
MOTIVE
1.Frustrea de a comunica
Dacă ei nu pot acapara atenția unui copil,, sau acel copil se compoarta într-un fel ne dorit de celalat copil, cel mai probil copilul nostru îl va mușca.
2. Stare de anxietate
Dacă un copil este îngrijorat de ceva, atunci prin mușcătură copilul se eliberează de acel sentiment.
3.Foamea și oboseala
Dacă îi este foame și se simte obosit, uneori aceste doua duc la a mușca din frustrare.
4. Dentiția
Dentiția sau durerea de dinșișori poate cauza durere și discomfort, prin a mușca ceva sau a aplica presiune pe gingii poate reduce din durere. prin urmare se recurge la mușcătură.
5. Caută atenție din partea adulților
Prin faptul că mușcă, primește atenție din partea tuturor care sunt în jur, de la adulții terifiați, la copii șocați.
Unii copii doar vor atenție, fie că o vor câștiga în mod negativ sau pozitiv. Mușcătura serveste scpoul.
Sunt încă multe motive. Dar haideți să vedem cum putem intervenii, înțelege copilul care recurge la mușcături.
Învățându-i că este greșit: Când copilul a recurs la mușcătură, folosește cuvinte simple dar solide, încercă ”asta e o mușcătura, e gresit”, sau ”NU”. Dacă vă aflați într-un grup, luați copilul deoparte și vorbiți cu el despre situația creată, explicați-i că îi poate rănii pe ceilalți, și de ce nu îti place ca el să facă asta.
Ocupă-i timpul cu o carte, jucărie sau activitate iubită de el/ea – Scopul este de a reduce tensiunea și dea schimba atenția copilului.
Învățându-i să împărțească – Luați un timer pentru a da copiilor o imagine vizuală despre timp, setași un timp și comunicați cu copilul căt timp are pentru a se juca cu acea jucărioară, asta dacă aveși mai mulți copii, sau vă aflați într-o grădiniță, școală. De obicei este nevoie să setăm timp pentru aceea jucărie populare ce o vor toți, așadar dămoportunitatea tuturor copiilor de a se bucura de jucărie. A împărți este cea mai comună cauză ce declanșează mușcăturile. Un sfat, mereu luați 2 sau mai multe exemple de aceeași jucărie dacă lucrați într-o grădiniță, astfel nu se creează discomfort, plânsete, supărare între ei.
Dacă bebelușul a început perioada de dentiție, cel mai benefic este să-i cumpărați jucării pentru dentiție, seara o puteți depozita în frigider ca mai apoi în timpul zilei să-o oferiți rece (nu înghețată), deoarece rece alină din discomfort.
Vă rog să îmi scrieți în comentarii, dacă a trecut copilul Dumneavoastră prin această perioadă, și cum v-ați simțit, gestionat situația?
I have to admit that first time I heard and learn this word was in my first year of University, while I studied social work.
I think is something amazing and kind to have empathy.
The standard definition for empathy is – ”Empathy is the ability to understand and appreciate another person’s feelings and experience”.
Empathy seems to have deep roots in our brains and bodies, and in our evolutionary history. Elementary forms of empathy have been observed in our primate relatives, in dogs, and even in rats.
So now, in my perspective empathy refers more generally to the ability of feeling the emotions of another person, but nor the desire to help.
COMPASSION!
What is compassion? Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help the physical, mental, or emotional pains of another and themselves. This means to suffer together!
Compassion is being aware of others needs or interests and acting to help them. Being genuinely concerned for the welfare of others.
Like the bible verse says ”Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, Colossians 3:12”.
Compassionate people usually display the following behaviours:
They are receptive to the demands of other and even anticipate them
They have good thoughts about others
They treat people well and do not expect a reward
Kind and helpful with the people around them
I love the word of compassion, wasn’t God compassionate with us? He was and He is!
He saw the suffering and He gave his only son for us. This is true love!
There really is no better declaration of compassion than the one Jesus made on the cross.
In Matthew 9:36 – When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus sees the needs and acts.
There are so many needs in world, we all experienced to be asked for money by kids, adults in the streets, well I do not encourage to give money, giving money means you encourage the person to beg and to continue doing it. But what if instead of giving money teach them how to earn money?
”Give someone a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.
What I want to do is to help children continue going to school, build houses for poor families, invlving them in community work, helping each others is compassion!
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HAVE FAITH. LOVE. HOPE
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CRINAMORPHO 