What is BREAST IRONING?

I wanna talk today about this subject as I find it really sad and violates the rights of the children (girls). That girl goes to a trauma, her self esteem is shaking badly.

BREAST IRONING – It’s a traditional practice whereby the breasts of a girl are flattered with tools like heated objects( spatulas, stones, hammers) to try to make them stop developing or disappear.

Usually happens in the villages, and it’s mostly done by the female members of the family, by an auntie, grandmother, eldest sister.

Some women whose breasts were ”ironed” have said they had trouble producing milk and breastfeeding their children.

Mothers in Cameroon thinks that by this practice girls will look less sexually attractive to men and keeping them in school for longer. (global citizen.org)

According to UNICEF, 38% of the children in Cameroon are married before they turn 18th. and 20% of them drop out of school after getting pregnant.

The practice is more common is West and Central Africa, yet has no borders, it occurs all over the world and has migrated with people and culture in the UK.

I can only imagine what is in their mind, what emotions they have, sure there is fear, pain, trauma, sadness, and so on.

It’s thought that about 1000 girls across the UK have been subjected to the practice. BREAST IRONING is child abuse!

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Depression in children and teenagers

Depression does not only affect adults. Children and teenagers can get depressed too, same like adults, the important thing is to understand and to be aware of that.

I can say about myself that when I was 14 years old I felt really depressed for about a year, there was some changes in my life I had to embrace. I did not knew that was depression but I can identify it now by the symptoms I experienced.

Here are some examples of depression I also experienced

Signs of depression in teenagers

• sadness, or a low mood that does not go away
• being irritable or grumpy all the time
• not being interested in things they used to enjoy
• feeling tired and exhausted a lot of the time
• refusing to eat, shower themselves or clean their room
• Aggressive
• Refusing to go to school; look at the changes in performances at school

Sometimes is tricky for parents to identify the signs of depression, but if you see any changes in your child just talk with and find the right help, is important for kids to have someone on their side. Like I had no one to help me, even though there was my teachers, social worker, some friends, but I still felt alone and discouraged. Dad became an alcoholic and my Mamma left the home, and I started the High School with no support from parents, God, is so hard and depressive. But you, yes you the one who reads this post you can help a child by showing support.

Let’s talk about young children, it’s hard to hear for them words like ( I am angry, upset, sad, you know, words that describes feelings). But you can see changes in their behaviour, in this way they telling you that something might be wrong and they are feeling depressed.

Signs of depression for 3-5 years old

• They might not be interested in the activities
• They might have problems sleeping
• irritable ;social withdrawal
• decreased appetite

If you’re a believer in God, you know that praying is weapon we can use all the time! Pray for your child and know that every person can go through depression, but God is there to help and He knows our problems!

ISAIAH 41:10 DEUTERONOMY 31:8

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Physical development

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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.