Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

The stressor I chose was alcohol usage by my father. My grandmother raised my siblings and I but, we often visited my parents in Washington DC for holiday’s and summer vacations. The stressor that I most remember is my dad drank every day. He was not a drinker who normally drank until he could not function but it would be past the legal limit to drink and drive. On this particular day my came to Richmond Virginia to pick up my sibling and I to take us back to DC with him for a week. He clearly had been drinking before he arrived his plan was to pick us up and leave immediately to get ahead of the rush hour traffic. I was about fourteen years old not close enough to the age for driving; needless to say we left not long after my dad arrived. We were about forty –five minutes into our trip when I notice the car was drifting off to the side of the road; my dad was falling asleep at the wheel. When I asked him if he was okay he said yes but his eyes began closing a couple more times before we reached DC. I thank God I was sitting in the front seat I watch him the entire drive making sure he stayed awake. I have never forgotten this experience with my dad this could have been on tragic trip my brother and sister were in the back seat not even aware of what was happening. I wanted to ensure we arrived safely.

The result of this stressor has forced me not to trust the driving of anyone else I still do not allow other people to drive me any where. I could not wait to get a driver’s license; my reaction to other people driving is to look out the window and not focus on their driving skills. I rarely go any place where someone else must drive; I have been the family chauffer since I was sixteen and eight months. Today, I love driving it is relaxing for me as long as I am behind the wheel I know I will get to where I am going. Recently, my family and I had to depend on someone else to drive us to and from the train station. I hated it; one driving was so reckless I had to start praying we would arrive safely back to the train station.

Researchers in Sweden indicate stress can undermine the immune system of children making it easier for viruses and bacteria to do their worst in the body of children (Jakobsen, 2014). A study was conducted on a group of 100 five year olds; parents answered questions regarding stress and possible difficulties that had impacted the family. The study showed twenty-six children experienced high levels of stress in the family; over fifty children grew up with normal stress levels (Jakobsen, 2014). Scientist stated children with high stress levels reacted to substances produced by their bodies which is linked to autoimmune reaction. The immune system of these children may not be protecting their bodies against viruses and bacteria which could result in the cells and tissue being attacked; the outcome could lead to type 1 diabetes (Jakobsen, 2014). However, a recent study in Finland found that physical activity helps children to cope with stress (Taylor, 2013). A cognitive psychologist indicated imaginative play allows children to express both positive and negative feelings; the social play aspects helps children feel connected to their communities reducing feelings of isolation or exclusion (Taylor, 2013). Play is important because it helps children to lose some energy and become calm (Taylor, 2013). Our day care program is built around children playing and being the authors of their play. I must admit they are all a happy bunch children who love to explore during their play both inside and out.


Reference
Jakobsen, S. E. (2014, February 13). Acute family stress can impact a child’s immune system.
Retrieved from http://sciencenordic.com/acute-family-stress-can-impact-child’s-immune-System

Taylor, K. (2013, August 5). Why our kids are stressing out, and what we can do about it. Retrieved from
http://kaboom.org/blog/why_our_kids_are_stressing_out_and_what_we_can_do_about_it

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I have chosen to research is Access to healthy water; this topic is particularly meaningful to me because recently in the news there have been conversations about the increase size of soft drinks and the amount of sugar our young people are taking in today. There is also the increase of diabetes among teenagers. Providing access to drinking water gives students another alternative to sugar sweetened beverages (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Ensuring students have access to free drinking water throughout the school day is one strategy the school can use to create an environment that supports health and learning (Center For Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). Providing clean properly maintained fountains, water dispenser and hydration stations throughout all school should be a great way to get attract children to drink water (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). School could allow students to bring their own water bottles or go to the water fountain when they need to drink water (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). I would like to see a decrease in number of children who develop diabetes. Last summer one of our preschool families discovered their child has diabetes the child is five years of age. After numerous meeting with the parents, teachers and administers they finally worked out a regiment that was right for him. The teacher had to learn to pay attention to the mood of this child because when he was aggressive his levels were too high and when was whining his levels were to low and he would need something to eat immediately. The teacher had a lot of support from the child’s parents, other teachers and administers; the little boy has since moved on to kindergarten.

Improving health in Africa 2014 states that 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 worldwide is due to water related disease. Clean safe water is essential to healthy living. There is evidence that tiny worms and bacteria live in the water but most bacteria are harmless but, some bacteria can cause disease in humans (Improving health in Africa, 2014). Waterborne disease such as typhoid fever, cholera and other diseases are running rampant in countries like Africa (Improving health in Africa, 2014). Sickness caused by dirty water reduces people’s energy; Improving health in Africa 2014 states that when people are sick someone else has to take care of them which means the second person cannot work either.

The Water Project is working with local partners to provide people in Africa with access to clean water as well as hygiene and sanitation programs. Improving health in Africa 2014 said the programs have reduced disease in African communities allowing villagers to increase productivity and begin working themselves out of poverty.

The ways access to healthy water may impact my future work is to being to encourage all children to choose water first verse a soda. I have notice there are more families at our center who requesting their child have water instead of juice. In the beginning, I did not see the importance of this request but in recent years as I have mentioned more young children are developing diabetes. It is time for a change Improving health in Africa 2014 said “improving health in Africa begins with access to safe water”.

Reference:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, December 18). Water access in schools.

Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao/wateracess.htm

Improving health in Africa. (2014, March 15). Retrieved from

http://thewaterproject.org/health.asp

Child Birth in your Life and Around the World

The birthing experience I chose to document comes from a past television program called “A Baby’s Story”. I chose this program because I have not had a personal birthing experience. What I remember about the family on television is they are young couple in their middle twenties with a two year old who they describe as very busy (Baby Story, 2007). The mother wanted her new baby here so she could get her body back to normal and meet the newest family member. Dad was only thinking about not passing out during the delivery and missing the birth of his second child (Baby Story, 2007). When the labor began for the mother she expressed her excitement that the process had begun. The doctor ordered the nurse to put the mother into pre-labor to see how the baby would respond; if the baby showed no distress they would proceed with the labor process continuing to allow her to dilate. When the moment came for delivering the baby the father was by his wife’s side coaching her through the process; he did not pass out. The mother only needed to push about four times for her son to be born (Baby Story, 2007).
I chose this example because I remembered I always enjoyed watching families welcome their newest family member into the world. This show also allowed me to experience the birth of a baby without having been pregnant myself. My thoughts about birth and its impact on child development is still a positive because the birth of a child has the ability to bring families together. Most families usually hope that their child is healthy and happy yet there are other factors that can come into play depending on a family’s economic situation. We must consider if the mother received proper prenatal care throughout her pregnancy; if she did then her baby has the greatest chance to grow and develop normally. If a mother received very little to no prenatal care she could put her baby at risk of being born with some abnormalities. I think each state should find a way to provide any pregnant individual with free prenatal care to ensure less of a chance the baby would have any disabilities.
The region I chose to research how births happen is Russia. I learned the majority of women in Russia give birth in the state hospital where they are offered birthing packages for additional fees on top of the normal procedures; packages would include dedicated nurses and private rooms. Private hospitals offer high levels of care which includes a doctor who speaks English; prices may be higher than state facilities because they may be covered by medical insurance. A normal stay after giving birth is three to seven days any time earlier patient must sign a release form. In the U.S. mothers usual stay about two days for normal birth and up to several days for patients who have caesarian births. I find this information a little different than the U.S. especially when they talk about offering birthing packages. They make sound like a vacation stay in the hospital






Reference
Baby Story, 2007. TLC channel
Giving Birth in Russia, 2014. http://russia.angloinfo.com/healthcare/pregnancy-birth/giving-birth/