Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

There are a ton of stressor's that can cause affect children's coping skills.  I remember growing up in a fairly nice neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, with good family values.  I would say I had a great childhood because of my parents working hard for my brother and I.  My father worked nights majority of my childhood and my mother was a stay at home mom until I was about eleven years old.  This is when my world changed.

In 2001, I turned eleven on September 6th which also happened to be the first day of 6th grade.  It was already a nervous experience.  I was in a new school (one that my brother and cousin attended) so the teachers already knew who I was.  Only a few kids from my primary school went to the same middle school and only maybe one or two were in my actual class.  I'd say the first week was a success.  I got along with everyone fairly well for the first week, I liked my teachers and I had band class.  This was an awesome introduction to Junior High School... until September 11th.  

I distinctly remember being in gym class the morning of September 11th.  It was a beautiful, breezy fall morning and my brother had taken me to school this day.  I had to be in by 7:10 a.m. because i was in the SM program for gifted children.  We had an extra math or science class and started earlier than the other children.  When second period came around, the boys and the girls were separated for gym.  We had a gym on the fifth floor and a gym on the third floor.  Of course, we had the fifth floor gym for the semester.  I remember learning about what we were going to be doing and actually seeing the Twin Towers smoking.  Of course at this age I had no idea what was actually going on.  I am assuming after the schools got the news of what actually happened we weren't allowed near the windows and in all of our other classes the shades were down.  The teachers tried to explain to us what happened, but they also figured our parents were better for this so after lunch all of the kids were brought down to the auditorium or the lunch room where movies were played as our parents picked us up one by one.  

I remember my mom getting to school about an hour earlier and as we walked home, she told me all about what happened.  I didn't know what to think or what to believe, I was only eleven.  I remember getting to my aunt's house and she had it on the news on t.v.  This was the first time I actually witnessed what I saw so many miles away from my school window.  This was the first time in my childhood I was scared to live in New York.  I didn't understand what terrorism or war was at the time, but as I grew older, I understood what happened that sunny day in New York.  

The country that I chose to research about the exposure of children to war and terrorism was Egypt.  I picked this country because of the recent events that had happened about two days ago.  There was a bombing of an Egypt Mosque and at least 305 human beings were killed.  Not only was there a bombing of the Mosque, but as the civilians were running out of the church to save their lives, they were also being shot at.  Ambulances rushing in to help people were being shot at.  For children to bare witness to this type of tragedy is just a shame.  This is not the type of world that we should have our children growing up in.  When did hate become stronger than love?  When did we so strongly start hating others that we don't believe they should have the chance to live a long life?  This needs to stop all over the world.  According to State.Gov "The new Egyptian Constitution passed following a public referendum in January 2014. Article 237 specifically addresses terrorism, stating that Egypt “commits to fighting all types and forms of terrorism and tracking its sources of funding within a specific time frame…” Egypt’s penal code includes an extensive counterterrorism legal framework, primarily under Part 2, Section 1, Article 86, which defines terrorism in expansive terms that include peaceful protests. Additionally, subsequent sections define a variety of offenses and penalties for those who engage in terrorist activities and provide incentives for cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of terrorist organizations. Despite having counterterrorism as its stated primary purpose, Egyptian counterterrorism legislation has had an intimidating effect on NGO operations."

https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2014/239407.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/mosque-attack-egypt.html

Immunizations

I chose to discuss immunizations.  Working in a daycare, this topic hits very close to home.  Although we are not DOE certified we do require the children to start with the basic immunizations.  If we have an infant starting at 6 weeks, we ask the parents update us with the immunization list as they go through them.  This isn't only for children, as staff we are required to have the proper immunizations as well.  We receive the PPD shot every two years, and just this year we are required to receive the Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox shot).  

I know in the United States, well New York at least, the Department of Education requires children to have all the immunizations before they start school.  If they do not have them, a letter from the doctor exempting them is required as proof as to why they cannot have the shot.  This debate has been going on for quite some time now and I believe there are pro's and con's to each side of the argument.  I believe every child should receive all of the vaccines necessary for immunization records.  All of these articles stating "autism comes from the MMR shot" or this disease is a result of that vaccine really bothers me.  Growing up, we all received the basic immunizations, we all grew up perfectly okay.  I am a firm believer these diseases and disabilities are not the "side-effects" of a vaccine.  Also, I wouldn't want my child to be the one to spread a sickness through-out the school because I refused to have them vaccinated.

Vaccines are special.  They help healthy people stay healthy and in doing so help to remove a major obstacle to human development (WHO Unicef, 2009).  I have decided to learn about vaccinations and immunizations in Germany this week.  New legislation in Germany will make it mandatory for all kindergartens to notify the German health authority if parents haven't submitted proof of vaccination counseling for their children (Scutti, 2017).  Germany is trying to be proactive when dealing with immunizations.  They noticed a trend in their population and a rise in diseases from the beginning of the year up until May.  These new laws go into affect in July 2017 and will require counseling to inform all parents about immunizations.  I think this is a big step for Germany and many other countries should take note.  They are trying to stop outbreaks before they continuously get worse throughout the public.


Scutti, S. (2017, June 06). Encouraging vaccination around the world. Retrieved November 12, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/health/vaccine-uptake-incentives/index.html  

WHO, UNICEF, World Bank. State of the world's vaccines and immunization, 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.

Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

CHILDBIRTH IN MY LIFE

While I do not have much experience with childbirth in my life, I do have one that I can discuss.  I can't say I remember it but from the stories I have been told, I think I recall it fairly well.  I am sure you could have guessed by now... I am talking about my own birth.  I have no nieces or nephews and have never been involved in another friend or family members birth.  From the stories that I am told, my parents say they were already anxious and on edge during pregnancy with me because the last month, my doctor had moved to Staten Island.  While living in another borough was already difficult, my father was a sanitation worker who at the time was working nights.  You can never predict when your water is going to break or contractions are going to start.  Also, my mother had a rough delivery with my older brother (requiring an emergency c-section) because the cord was wrapped around his neck.  They were told to try to relax with me because the doctor's didn't want my mother to trigger an early birth.  Luckily, I was born just fine.. a little jaundice, but okay.

I chose this example because I feel personal experiences (whether mine, or someone else's) are very helpful and extremely informational.  When it is my time to have a child, I know my mother and father will help me through whatever life throws at me.  Birth is a miraculous and beautiful time to go through with your loved ones.  After the readings and videos from this week, I believe that is when child development is most important -- in the womb.  We are making huge progress to figuring out what exactly a fetus goes through and I can't wait for the breakthrough of all the information.

CHILDBIRTH IN SWEDEN

After knowing about births in the United States, I decided to look up births and how they happen in Sweden.  I have heard a few things about Sweden and how they are ahead of the world in childbirth and pregnancy.  They have a very low rate of infant-mortality and c-sections.  The pregnant women here are seemed to be calm and collective while having a baby.  Everything is figured out before hand and you are made comfortable during your labor.  Just like the U.S.A, almost all births take place in hospitals.  Unlike the U.S., the hospitals in Sweden are made to mimic a home setting.  There are labor lounges where women can snack, watch t.v., drink and just relax while labor progresses.  The Doctor is only involved in emergencies & check-ups of the baby after birth.  The team consists of the Midwife, the Midwife's assistant, and a family member of the woman's choosing.  Medicine is not discouraged or encouraged, but each pregnant woman knows the advantages and disadvantages.  Prenatal care is completely free.  I think the USA can learn a lot from Sweden, just by figuring out the low rates of infant mortality.  Sweden believes birth is an intensely fulfilling personal experience.  I believe that's what it will be when I have my first child, and I hope to have the best care that I can receive.

http://www.parenting.com/article/birth-maternal-health