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Factors effecting childrens development

There are four identified factors which are distinct areas these are different ranges which affect the growth and development of the human body these, four distinct areas are social and economic, health, genetics and environment.

The factors of the environment are the way in which we live which has huge affects on our lifestyle and the behavior we act. The outside effects are in some inner cities such as the U.K which has become unpleasant to live in due to the increase of air pollution from vehicle exhausts, factories, littering, tipping, dog fowling etc. Other factors of the environment are poverty and unemployment, poor living conditions for those who are on low incomes, discrimination against ethnic or disabled people is reduced with the introduction of the relevant statutes e.g. improvements in access for people with impaired mobility and equal opportunities for all. The agricultural environment also imposes problems for families which have unemployment or have low incomes so transport and housing will be difficult to secure, radiation from atomic bomb explosions that happened years ago, nuclear power stations and x-rays and also climate changes with this environment lifestyle it will effect the growth and development. Dental and hospital x-rays when pregnant can harm the growth and development of an unborn child. The inside effects on the factors of environment are drugs, alcohol, taking medication during pregnancy, smoking and poor diet. Smoking, drug taking and drinking will damage the insides of the human body because of the substances that are inside these factors. Taking medication when pregnant may harm the baby as well as the mother because during pregnancy the mother does tend to be weaker than normal.

The factors of genetics are that characteristics are passed on from the biological parents to the child these characteristics include the skin, eye and hair color the height of the child and facial features also sometimes the ability to run fast. Illnesses can also be passed on such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, luntingdons cohorea. The tendency towards other conditions like asthma, eczema, diabetes, hearing and visual impairments, glucoma, heart disease or a heart murmur can seem to be inherited.

The factors of health are good health which is a healthy balanced diet which will ensure the growth and development. A large intake food can lead to obesity and a small quantity of food can lead to anorexia these will both affect the growth and development of the human body involving the role of maturation which I have described in P1. Good health such as good speech, eyesight, hearing, keeping fit and a generally good life style will benefit the growth and development that are body’s go through where as bad speech, bad skin, bad hearing, bad eyesight, no exercise, always being ill, not eating properly and inherited disease can have huge affects on the body’s growth and development. Being ill all the time will have huge affects on children later in life as they will be missing a lot of school and therefore all the areas of development are affected, through missing school children will miss opportunities to learn, develop and build on skills that maybe useful later on.

The factors which occur for social and economic growth development are gender, family, education, culture and income. With gender people have different expectations on what girls and boys should and shouldn’t do e.g. people think that only boys should play football. Some males believe that a woman’s place is in the home. In some cultures the boy’s opinions are valued more than the girl’s but the girl’s opinion doesn’t matter. People have different sexualities such as being gay, lesbian and bisexual and some people frown upon this. Family expectations may be set for a child and the child may not like this would mean that a problem would occur in the family and this would cause family arguments. Family arguments are not just about the expectations of the family but many other reasons too e.g. other members of the family having different opinions on a tough situation, this may also cause the family to fall out then other family members who get involved will be seen to be taking sides. Divorced parents may give problems for their offspring because of different routines or maybe the parents talk bad about or to the other parent sometimes in anger. To a child a step family would be a problem because they will be just getting to know this new step parent and the child may become insecure due to them thinking that this step parent is trying to replace their real parent. Parents try to teach their children values and skills also including their beliefs for later on in life this would be the difference between right and wrong, the use of bad/fowl language and the correct way to behave etc. Education in school, on visits or travelling etc, is given to a child will help the child to reach their potential by using an appropriate stimulation, by giving children opportunities and by encouraging a positive self-image. There is a variety of cultures and in these cultures their religious beliefs and their way of life can affect development. Some cultures arrange marriages for their offspring, some cultures forbid eating certain foods and some have a certain dress code and have to cover up most of the body where as others are not about what parts of the body that you can or cannot show. Income plays a big part in every day life this will affect personal development. People who live in poverty and have poor housing and diet because this is all that they can afford are more likely to suffer ill health; these people are unlikely to get involved in leisure activities. People on low income will notice that this has a dramatic affect on day to day life e.g. can not pay for transport, not very well dressed and it’s hard to fund for new clothes and not able to get the latest technology e.g. if a child has homework a computer would help with this especially in high school and collage etc.

Community Development Program For Underprivileged Childrens

An important element of community development is education of the girl child. As per the  UN, only 2 out of 5 Indian women can read and over 40% of Indian girls under 14 years do not go to school .. Thus, community development becomes a core focus area for NGOs, looking at educating its people, more importantly, the women in the rural pockets of the country.

While various initiatives have been undertaken for the empowerment of women, education is at the crux of rural community development in the country.  Indian NGOs like, Bharti Foundation, understand this reality and have designed rural, innovative education initiatives like the Satya Bharti School Program promoting academic as well as holistic development of  girls whilst incorporating community development as a part of its school curriculum. The program provides out-of-class learning opportunities to address societal issues & fulfill its vision of providing quality education to boys & girls from rural communities of India.   

Students of the Satya Bharti Schools are encouraged to undertake community development campaigns in their own villages. The community development campaigns are built into the curriculum, ensuring that it forms a regular part of their weekly activities. Students get together and address various issues of rural development affecting their community. Various kinds of campaigns like Campaigns against Child Marriage, Campaign for Girl Child Education, Plantation Drives and Health and Hygiene Drives are undertaken by students.  

Bharti Foundation was established in 2000 with a vision “To help underprivileged children and young people of our country realize their potential”. Visit bhartifoundation.com to know more about their program for girl child education.

A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development

A Secure Base: Parent-Child Attachment and Healthy Human Development

The renowned psychiatrist continues to explore the nature of early parental bonds and offers further evidence of how strong emotional ties promote mental health.

List Price: $ 24.50

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Importance of Baby and Child Development Services

Study after study has shown that the healthier children are the better they learn. That’s why it’s so important, especially in a child’s formative years that they get the nutrients they need. But, in addition to physical nutrition, it’s important that children receive emotional and mental nutrition as well.

Child development services are a relatively modern invention. Prior to the 20th century, there were no such services. In fact, in many countries, children were considered property and their value seen as simply how well they could carry on the business and interests of the parents.

Nowadays, however, children are seen as valid entities in their own right. And in the more civilized and enlightened countries there is a clear recognition that improving the welfare of the child, indirectly improves the welfare of the country as a whole.

Parent’s however, have a much more personal interest in the development of their children.

They want to ensure that their child is developing at least on par with other children of the same age and preferably with some advantages. Parents, consciously or not, are always comparing their child’s progress with other children. For example: What age are they beginning to talk? What is their height compared to other children of their age? How is their hearing? Their eyesight? And so on.

Most parents are not experts in raising children. As with previous generations, they raise their kids as they were raised and continue to learn as they go along. Child development services are no replacement for parents but they can help parents to recognize when their child is developing slowly or not at all in a certain area. Recognition of these states can allow the parent to intervene soon enough in a child’s development to make course corrections before it’s too late.

Many childhood psychological, behavioral, and physical problems can be traced directly to the physical and psychological nutrients that they receive every day.

To ensure that your child has the best chance of succeeding not only today but in the future as well, you should periodically schedule appointments with your child’s health care practitioner for baseline health testing and evaluation.

Health care practitioners have created baselines for the age at which a baby can follow an object with their eyes. They know at what age a child will respond to a noise. They know at what age a child should begin to talk, walk, and to recognize themselves as an individual. They can help you determine if you need to alter the nutrition that you’re feeding your child or to determine if your child should see an audiology or other type of specialist. They can even provide you with advice on seemingly mundane things such as should you use a baby walker for your child or should you allow them to watch TV or not. In short, the help of these experts can be invaluable in tracking the progress of your child.

These appointments can do much to help a child to build up his or her personal infrastructure traits to allow them to attain their full potential as they reach young adulthood. Failure to do so may cause your child to inadvertently miss one or more of the key stages in their childhood development and could adversely affect them the rest of their lives.

Swing Sets Encourage Free Play and Foster Healthy Child Development

Life in today’s world is competitive and fast paced, and the pressures put upon children to succeed can be overwhelming.  In many communities, it isn’t uncommon for parents to load their children’s schedules with extracurricular activities that they feel can enrich the children’s experience and knowledge.  Alas, what often becomes overlooked in this scenario is the child’s need for free play.  When there is no room in the day for free play, children suffer.  According to a clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.”  Play is so crucial to child development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognizes play as the right of each and every child.

What is free play?  In short, it is the kind of play that is child-centered.  It is created and guided by children.  Free play doesn’t involve electronics or screens, isn’t scheduled, and isn’t organized or presided over by adults.  Free play is play that just happens.  It can be an individual kind of play created by one single child, or it can be a cooperative effort by multiple children.  While adults may be invited to participate in free play with children, the children themselves must be the ones who guide the way.  Free play can come in any shape or form, but parents who wish to help encourage free play can provide children with tools to assist. 

In the eyes of many parents, backyard swing sets are one of the most motivating tools children can use for free play.  With a swing set, children are free to initiate and take part in creative play experiences, whether alone or with friends, and still be under the secretly watchful eye of mom or dad.  Swing sets come in an endless variety of configurations, so finding one that offers the desired features is usually quite easy.  Wood swing sets are most commonly chosen backyard use, but metal swing sets are available as well.  The most basic swing sets are outfitted with a couple of swings and rings or a trapeze bar, but parents can also opt for more features.  A club house, slide, and monkey bars are common additions that parents want for their children’s backyard swing set.  Other accessories can be added, of course, to meet the individual needs of the family.  Some of the options that are available on many swing sets include a sandbox, different types of swings, or a climbing apparatus.  Pretend play can be encouraged with fun accessories such as a telescope, steering wheel, or vinyl playhouse enclosure for the swing set’s existing club house.

Children have tremendous creative power and can use free play time to exercise their imagination.  Swing sets are just one tool for free play that parents can provide to children, but they are a particularly appealing tool.  Swing sets, in addition to encouraging imaginative free play, also encourage active play.  On a swing set, children must move their bodies while they engage their minds, and this goes a long way toward developing the whole child.

When all is said and done, though, time is the most important tool that parents can provide their children to encourage free play.  Allowing children more time to engage in their own imaginative play will benefit their development much more significantly than a day filled with pre-scheduled, adult-organized activities ever could.

Swing Sets Encourage Free Play and Foster Healthy Child Development

Life in today’s world is competitive and fast paced, and the pressures put upon children to succeed can be overwhelming.  In many communities, it isn’t uncommon for parents to load their children’s schedules with extracurricular activities that they feel can enrich the children’s experience and knowledge.  Alas, what often becomes overlooked in this scenario is the child’s need for free play.  When there is no room in the day for free play, children suffer.  According to a clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.”  Play is so crucial to child development that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognizes play as the right of each and every child.

What is free play?  In short, it is the kind of play that is child-centered.  It is created and guided by children.  Free play doesn’t involve electronics or screens, isn’t scheduled, and isn’t organized or presided over by adults.  Free play is play that just happens.  It can be an individual kind of play created by one single child, or it can be a cooperative effort by multiple children.  While adults may be invited to participate in free play with children, the children themselves must be the ones who guide the way.  Free play can come in any shape or form, but parents who wish to help encourage free play can provide children with tools to assist. 

In the eyes of many parents, backyard swing sets are one of the most motivating tools children can use for free play.  With a swing set, children are free to initiate and take part in creative play experiences, whether alone or with friends, and still be under the secretly watchful eye of mom or dad.  Swing sets come in an endless variety of configurations, so finding one that offers the desired features is usually quite easy.  Wood swing sets are most commonly chosen backyard use, but metal swing sets are available as well.  The most basic swing sets are outfitted with a couple of swings and rings or a trapeze bar, but parents can also opt for more features.  A club house, slide, and monkey bars are common additions that parents want for their children’s backyard swing set.  Other accessories can be added, of course, to meet the individual needs of the family.  Some of the options that are available on many swing sets include a sandbox, different types of swings, or a climbing apparatus.  Pretend play can be encouraged with fun accessories such as a telescope, steering wheel, or vinyl playhouse enclosure for the swing set’s existing club house.

Children have tremendous creative power and can use free play time to exercise their imagination.  Swing sets are just one tool for free play that parents can provide to children, but they are a particularly appealing tool.  Swing sets, in addition to encouraging imaginative free play, also encourage active play.  On a swing set, children must move their bodies while they engage their minds, and this goes a long way toward developing the whole child.

When all is said and done, though, time is the most important tool that parents can provide their children to encourage free play.  Allowing children more time to engage in their own imaginative play will benefit their development much more significantly than a day filled with pre-scheduled, adult-organized activities ever could.

Promote Healthy Child Development with Play Therapy in Johannesburg

Article by Jayme Wium

Play therapy is a natural and spontaneous part of life and forms an especially important role in a child’s development as during play children learn about their physical surroundings, their own capabilities and limitations, social rules and the difference between fantasy and reality. In play, children interact with toys and other people as they enter new experiences and rehearse new skills. Children are also able to communicate through play and show things that might otherwise be too complicated for them to communicate in a verbal manner.The advantages of play therapy are endless and include benefits such as teaching a child to take responsibility for their behaviour and to replace inappropriate behaviour with more successful behaviour as well as develop new and creative solutions to their problems. Children also learn to respect and accept themselves and others through the simple means of play. Social skills and the experience and expression of emotion and developing respect to the thoughts and feelings of others are all results than can be seen from effective play sessions.Families play an important role in the development or healing process of a child. The play therapist will make some decisions about how and when to involve some or all members of the family. At a minimum, the therapist will want to communicate regularly with the child’s caretakers to develop a plan to resolve problems as they are identified and to monitor the progress of the treatment.Bella Vida Centre offers play therapy as a treatment method with natural benefits. The therapist will help children to systematically address and resolve their own problems and since play is fun, it makes it easier for children to confront what is bothering them. Once children have expressed and addressed their problems through play, the therapist will be better able to help them find solutions to their problems in life.

Play is Kid’s Work for Healthy Child Development

Kids are under so much pressure today, that time for creative and imaginative play takes a back seat to the day’s pressing demands. Appointments, deadlines, finances and job demands dominate the thought processes of parents, while the importance of developing the cognitive skills, social skills, and problem-solving skills in children of all ages is often deemed better left to the schools. But even the schools are reducing play time. Just prior to the 21st century, from 1989 to 1999, free time in kindergarten was reduced almost 30%. Many reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics attest that TV cuts down on kids’ time for creative play. Kids are playing less at home and at school. Lack of creative play can hinder child development. Parents who want the best for their children must allow time for kids to play.

Play is one of the earliest interactions that children have with the world. Even in early infanthood, curiosity and imagination lead to object manipulation, cause and effect responses, and development of dexterity and physical strength. Babies learn how to control their surroundings. Toddlers begin to emulate adults in creative play, and can use it to conquer fears, develop emotional security, and learn new competencies. Preschoolers and young children learn how to interact with others, and can develop their emotional maturity, linguistic skills and social skills.

Elementary school aged children continue to develop cognitive, emotional and social development skills through play. In young school aged children, free play encourages decision making skills, leadership skills, and also serves to help young children identify their own areas of interest. Through this, kids receive inner suggestions of their likes and dislikes. With time, children more clearly identify their preferences and can passionately follow and develop their talents and interests.

Mums engaging in play with babies or young kids can get a refreshing look at the world through a younger person’s eyes. However, it is important for mum to remember that kids’ free and self-directed play help children come to terms with self-confidence, manipulation skills, negotiating skills, and decision making skills. It nurtures creativity and imagination to levels that help kids deal with complex situations and problems which later contributes to forming problem-solving skills. Children’s playtime is more than play. It’s kid’s work for healthy child development.

Too often, today’s world suffocates the creative and imaginative potential available for the free play that is a significant contributor to healthy child development. TVs need to be shut off. Neighborhoods need to be safer. Time has to stop to let kids play in their own world. Kids need to balance organized and free play, playing with mum and self-directed playtime. This basic need is a right of every child. Parents need to take a step back and make sure their children have time to enjoy creative play time. Take a refreshing look at the world. Get involved with your children and join in their games.

General Child Safety

Child Proofing Your Home
A sometimes satirised yet common aspect of modern parenting is that we go to all sorts of measures all for the simple cause of keeping child safety as top priority. The truth is, while bundling them in bubble wrap and cotton wool is a bit extreme, there’s no shame in taking the right precautions to ensure they’re well protected – it’s only natural instinct to look after them when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Baby Monitoring Radios
One of the most popular ways of keeping tabs on your baby without having to devote every waking second to them is through the wonders of technology, specifically through baby monitors. We at Olivers not only provide one-way radios, but also supply models with built-in thermometers to measure room and baby temperature.

However, it’s often agreed that being able to listen to your child from another room is no substitute for making actual checks regularly, so don’t rely on the monitor too much if in the rare event your or the baby’s radio should power down or there’s a problem that you wouldn’t be able to hear through the intercom.

Summertime Baby Protection
For the summer months, the muggy conditions can often cause as much discomfort for your baby as it does for everyone else in the house.

If your child’s room is experiencing problems in controlling the temperature, its worth investing in a humidifier to help everyone get a good night’s sleep and keep your baby’s body temperature in check.

Other items available regarding child safety are insect nets for cots, cribs and beds. Insect bites can often cause swelling for days afterwards, and can then start bleeding if scratched, leaving the wound open to infection.

Clearly nets should be a necessity to your child’s health if your house is in an area where insect life is rife and the pesky unwanted guests can find their way inside – have a look around to see what design would work best.

Childproof Gates & Locks
Before buying into guards and rails, do a quick safety assessment of your house. Don’t pass everything off as a risk to child safety – instead try and observe what arouses their curiosity and where they’re most likely to go if given free roam. While locking close gates are often a vital safeguard for houses with a flight of stairs, there’s also a variety of locks and guards for a number of purposes around the house, including a number of versatile cabinet locks to keep medicine cupboards shut tight.

Child Safety – Outdoor Equipment. For when you’re out and about, it can only take a moment for you or your child to become distracted, and suddenly they’re lost. Child harnesses may look restrictive, but it’s generally agreed that a child’s curiosity can still be satisfied, but with a gentle tug you know they won’t be wandering off too far without you knowing.

Child car safety.
In the car is obviously a time to make sure your child’s seated and buckled up correctly. As well as a range of items to make sure their baby car Safety is top notch, we also have a range of shades and blinds to keep cool during the summer.

Also available for outdoor child safety is a range of swimming equipment to keep them happy in the pool, from water wings to full-sized inflatables, plus cossies and goggles to keep the skin healthy from over-exposure to the chlorinated waters.

I Am Your Child Series (Educating Parents on a Child’s Healthy Brain Development – Prenatal Through the First Early Years) [6 VHS Set]

I Am Your Child Series (Educating Parents on a Child’s Healthy Brain Development – Prenatal Through the First Early Years) [6 VHS Set]

Contains six VHS videos. In 1997 Rob and Michele Reiner joined forces with leading child development experts to help raise public awareness about the critical importance the prenatal period through the first early years plays in a child’s healthy brain development. Already a renowned film director, Reiner turned his talents to helping educate parents on this, and other topics of interest to the caregivers of our youngest children.

The critically-acclaimed I Am Your Child series began with the release of “The First Years Last Forever” in 1997. The star-studded series has grown throughout the years to comprise 13 productions in English, 11 in Spanish, and continues with “For The Child,” to help educate foster parents about the mental health resources available for the children in their care. Narrated by Rob Reiner, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, Maria Shriver, Phylicia Rashad, Gloria Estefan, Jamie Lee Curtis and LeVar Burton. CONTENTS: 1) The First Years Last Forever -Tips on bonding, communication, health and nutrition, child care. 2) Your Healthy Baby – Tips on how to have a healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, when it is best for you and your children to visit the doctor, what foods to feed your children, exercising, how to have fun being healthy. 3) Safe From the Start – Tips on car safety, safety at home, safety outside the home, toy safety and gun safety. 4) Ready To Learn – Shows why you should talk and read to your baby, ways to read with your child daily, teaching read and writing activities, and more. 5) Quality Child Care – Shows why quality child care is important, what to look for when choosing child care, questions to ask caregivers, and more. 6) Discipline – Tips on why children feel safe when you set limits, how to set limits right from the start, why a firm but gentle approach works best, and more.

List Price: $ 75.00

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