Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development 

As a teacher, the most recent stressor that I have seen in our schools, affecting children’s development, is being homeless.  Due to the economy, unemployment rates have risen, and it has made it very difficult for many of our parents to find jobs.  Unfortunately, after losing their home and living with various relatives, these families become homeless.  The children are affected because they are constantly wondering and worrying where their next meal will be coming from, will they be moving again, and why should they make friends only to move away from them again.  In many cases, the tensions at “home” are high because the bills cannot be paid and the parents are worried about where they are going to have to move to next and how all of this impacts their family.   

I have had students in my classroom who have been identified homeless under the Homeless Education Act.  Developmentally, their size was smaller than their peers, whether this was due to lack of proper nutrition was never determined.  Academically, they were below grade-level in all areas. Behaviorally, at first, they were very aggressive and angry. However, once they realized that we were all here to help them and be their friends, they slowly warmed-up to us and began to trust the staff and students of our school.  The school, along with community assistance, was able to find them a home, provide them with food, clothing, and presents at Christmas.  

Because of this experience with teaching homeless children and seeing firsthand the impact that homelessness has on children’s physical, cognitive, and social development, I was curious to learn more about this stressor in my region of North Carolina.  I learned that, in the last 5 years, the number of homeless children in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has grown 218% (website Fox News Charlotte).  Over 4,700 homeless children ages 5 and up are in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (website Fox News Charlotte).    Various organizations are being formed to help children and families facing homelessness.  A non-profit organization, A Child’s Place, is trying to help homeless children in this region of North Carolina by making sure that these children have all the “tools” needed for school.  They ask people to donate money to purchase school supplies, but also want people to donate their time and services (website A Children’s Alliance).  They ask people to spend one hour a week with these children helping them in their schools (website Fox News Charlotte).  Based on data collected from the 2009-2010 school year, 93% of A Child’s Place client children were promoted to the next grade level and 93% were reading on grade level ( website A Children’s Alliance).  Nationally, the percentage of homeless children being promoted to the next grade level is 64% and reading on grade level is 48% (website A Children’s Alliance).  Hopefully, surrounding counties will be able to use resources, such as A Child’s Place, to help the homeless children in their school districts.

http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/local/Help-for-the-Homesless-Children-in-Charlotte-137477648.html

http://www.thechildrensalliance.org/resources.html

Child Development and Public Health

A public health topic that is meaningful to me is Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).  The reason is a very personal one.  Two weeks after the birth of my third child, friends of mine suffered the unexpected death of their 23 months old son.  It was devastating for them, their family, their friends, and their community.  Through counseling and support, they have turned this tragedy into something remarkable.  They have established a foundation, in the child’s name, to raise money to send other children, from their community, to music and summer camps.  I admire Steve and Lori Yang for their strength and character in the face of such a traumatic event in their lives.  I have included a link to the foundation’s website at the bottom of this post.

In Australia, they have an interesting program called SIDS and Kids which is dedicated to saving the lives of babies and children during pregnancy, birth, infancy and childhood and supporting bereaved families (website SIDS and Kids).  They contribute a sizable amount of money towards research into the possible causes and prevention of infant death, SIDS, stillbirth, and health promotion (website SIDS and Kids).  Their major fund raiser is called Red Nose Day.  On this day, people wear a red nose for a day to be silly for a serious cause, which has helped to draw awareness to their cause (website SIDS and Kids).  SIDS and Kids offers support services 24 hours a day. Their current health promotion is SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping, which is evidence based and provides families, infant caregivers, and health professionals with information about how to reduce the risk of SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents and create a safe sleeping environment for babies (website SIDS and Kids).  Below are their recommendations found on their website:

-Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side

-Sleep baby with head and face uncovered

-Keep baby smoke free before birth and after

-Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day

-Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult care-giver for the first six to twelve months

-Breastfeed if you can

http://www.sidsandkids.org/

http://michaelyangfound.org/

Childbirth in My Life and Around the World 

On June 25, 1997 at 2:30am my water broke and the contractions started.  By 8:00am, the contractions were about 6 minutes a part, so my husband and I left for the hospital.  Everything was going along like it said in the books.  Once we arrived at the hospital, the contractions stopped being regular.  They gave me medicine to help them along.  Nothing was working, except the epidural!  After 19 hours, my temperature started to rise, putting me and the baby at risk for infection.  At 10:00pm, the doctor decided on an emergency C-section.  Even though I was an educated 27 year old, who had read all the “pregnancy books” and attended Lamaze classes, I was not prepared for this scenario.  I was exhausted mentally and physically and just wanted the safe arrival of my baby.  I had never been in an operating room before. Fortunately, my husband was able to be in there with me.  I was not able to see any of the delivery, and they whisked my baby girl away after I had a quick look at her.  I didn’t even get to touch her.  She was perfectly beautiful and healthy.  I held her for the first time when they brought her to me in the recovery room at midnight.  It was one of the longest and most rewarding days of my life.   

The Netherlands

“The Netherlands has the highest percentage of home births in the western world,” said Sjaak Toet, chairman of the Dutch association of midwives KNOV.  About 30% give birth at home and 10% at special out-patient birthing clinics.  The main reasons why so many mothers choose home births are because “it runs in the family” (their own mothers did it) and because of insurance.  Insurance does not cover the full cost of a hospital birth unless it is a medical reason.  Home births and midwives are free.  The midwives are very skilled, knowledgeable and highly qualified to assist in normal births.  Many mothers choose a home setting for their second or third births because it is more relaxing.  For a home birth, you progress at your own rate.  The midwife can only administer over-the-counter pain relief.  In addition, the midwife will come do a home visit within 10 days after the delivery.   

What I found especially fascinating was that during the first 8 days after giving birth, in the Netherlands, a professional maternity nurse will come to your home and look after you and your baby.  Generally, insurance will cover this cost.  The maternity nurse’s duties include showing you how to care for the baby, how to bathe him/her, and how to breastfeed properly.  The maternity nurse will also help with the other children, prepare meals, take care of laundry, and do light housekeeping. 

I think one’s birth experience does impact child development because APGAR scores are taken at the one and five minute marks for a reason.  Although, I have known babies who have overcome an extremely low initial APGAR score, it was with medical assistance that their scores were improved at the 5 minute mark.  Oxygen levels are crucial and inadequate levels can cause brain damage.

http://www.passionateparenting.nl/pregnancy-and-birth/having-a-baby-in-the-netherlands.php
http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/childbirth-in-holland-38191.html