Impacts on Early Emotional Development

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

The area I chose to focus upon is Latin America and the Caribbean.  I have read about some of the issues facing this region and the urgent needs they are experiencing along with geographic proximity are all motivations for my choice.  Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered a succession of natural disasters such as hurricanes, flash flooding, droughts resulting in water shortages, volcanic activity, large-scale fires and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that resulted in over 220,000 deaths including more than 100,000 children (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2013).  In 2012 amid a series of natural disaster millions in Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba were impacted by “both Hurricane Sandy  and Tropical Storm Isaac which furthered the vulnerability of those living in camps in Haiti, where the population is still struggling to recover from the earthquake and cholera epidemic of 2010” (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2013, para. 2).  There is a great disparity between rich and poor in the region and Columbia in the midst of government and guerrilla tensions has negatively impacted vulnerable populations.                                      

The area is unprepared to respond to such disasters both man-made and natural and exposes the most vulnerable women and children to violence, abuse and exploitation.  As a result nearly 24 percent of young children in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from the lack of proper nutrition.  As the consequence of severe drought in areas of Latin America it is reported that “94.3 per cent of the indigenous households are suffering from food insecurity.  Sudden-onset disasters or a worsening of the drought has the potential to create a situation of severe acute malnutrition” (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2013, p. 1).                                  

These situations can lead to increased health risks from disease and chronic malnutrition, brutal abuse, abandonment and may cause death.  Traumatic events as a result of “environmental factors can make a child more vulnerable to social, emotional and behavioral problems” (Cooper, Masi & Vick, 2009, p. 4).  Research now demonstrates that trauma can affect all areas of development including cognitive, physical, mental, social, and emotional as well as how the brain grows and develops.  When a young child is repeatedly subjected to traumatic events the brain and body respond in order to survive and the “fight or flight stress response turns on and changes the body’s heart rate, breathing, movement, and brain function.  Unfortunately, the adaptations the child develops to survive in an environment of repeated trauma may become a problem in other environments” (Rice & Groves, 2005, p. 11).  According to Rice and Groves (2005) the traumatized child may show different symptoms such being withdrawn, fearful, or become aggressive and exhibit behaviors that affect relationships with others and regress or fall behind in development.                                                                                                                                                     

The insight that I have gained from this assignment is that all areas of the globe have unique challenges specific to their region that must be overcome for the peoples’ well-being.  It has also stressed the important work that UNICEF is doing for children world-wide.  “We believe that nurturing and caring for children are the cornerstones of human progress” (United Nations Children’s Fund, 2013, para. 2).  I agree with that statement if we are to make progress in this world we must begin by making our children the top priority.  As early childhood professionals we have that opportunity to have a lasting impact on child’s well-being and development by providing a nurturing environment that meets their needs socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.  We must respect and acknowledge that we have responsibility to the next generation.  

References

Cooper, J. L., Masi, R., & Vick, J. (2009, August).  Social-emotional development in early childhood what every policymaker should know. Retrieved from: http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_882.html

United Nations Children’s Fund. (2013). About UNICEF: Who we are. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/about/who/index_introduction.html?p=printme

United Nations Children’s Fund. (2013). Humanitarian action for children – Latin America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/appeals/tacro.html

United Nations Children’s Fund. (2013). Latin America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/090422_bliss_healthlatinamer_web.pdf