Disadvantaged children

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.

1. Unemployment
2. Single parent
3. Low income
4. 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.

Photo by Sankalpa Joshi on Pexels.com

Physical development

Photo by T.S

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.

How does childhood trauma affect adulthood

About this subject I can talk, write a lot. I can relate to it. My parents used to neglect us sometimes, neglecting is a trauma. But shall we let the trauma affect our lives? I did not, I understood my parents actions.

When you are a child, the parents are the ones that should raise your in a healthy, caring, loving way. But what can a child do if the parent, carers, exposes him/her to some forms of abuse, trauma? Well, here comes the adults which are in contact with the child, they should be the heroes in cases of abuse (social workers, health visitor, teachers, etc).

Childhood trauma affects self image – According to psychology today, one of the most devastating impacts of childhood trauma is the effect it has on self-image. Adults who experienced significant trauma as children are more likely to develop a pattern of victimised thinking. Adopting this ideology is incredibly dangerous, as the way people perceive themselves impacts their words, choices, careers, opportunities and relationships. Individuals who genuinely think the world is out to get them will inevitably attract situations and people who reinforce these beliefs, regardless of how incorrect they may be.

I am thinking about the children who lived in a orphanage, their self esteem is so low. I used to work with kids in orphanages and they had some sad stories about the way they were treat there. Some of them experienced forms of abuse. I can just imagine while in adulthood they might have the same low self esteem or their lives to be totally changed in good. God can heal us of all our past, bad experiences and help us forgive and understand peoples actions towards us.

Their are 4 types of abuse ( physical, sexual, emotional, neglect). Some kids experience this types of abuse, and usually happens in family, but family should be LOVE, isn’t it?

If you experienced trauma, abuse in your childhood and now you have anxiety, depression, feel like worthless, just give all to God and HE is ready to heal and love you unconditionally.

If you are a parent, love your kids and treat them with care, compassion, you have to power to model the child today for tomorrow’s adulthood.

BE KIND!

crinamorpho.wordpress.com

Photo by Emre Kuzu on Pexels.com