Module 3 Assignment 1 Nuturing a Child's Attachment

Nurturing a Child’s Attachment

Children are constantly growing and changing. It is important that families, mainly parents, understand how important their role is in a child’s life in building relationships and forming healthy attachments. Parents play the central role in their children’s growth and development. It is important to understand how a child’s attachment early in life has an impact on their social and emotional development and learning. Which is mainly about understanding how early bonds with parental figures affect a child’s behavior. Nurturing a child is essential and vital to his or her healthy development and growth. Essential ingredients for improving a child’s everyday life are that adults must: encourage children to explore; show them basic skills; praise their accomplishments; help them practice and expand their skills; protect them from disapproval, teasing, or punishment; surround them with rich and responsive language environment (“National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care”).  Children who form secure attachments in infancy have better advantages when it comes to their emotional, social, and academic development. As noted in Music (2011): “A child who is secure at a year is likely to have attachments in most cultures studied, such as being less likely to fight with peers, being more able to play creatively, having good skills at understanding their own and others minds having a better developed sense of their own agency, and being better able to regulate their own emotions” (p.70).  This explains why some children may struggle with social connections with adults and peers and others form social bonds easily.

As educators, it is important that we make sure that parents know how important their role is as a parent and caregiver and what their attachment or non-attachment can mean for a child in their care. The absence of such a figure can do more psychological harm than good to a growing and developing child. Children need to have a support system to feel they can be successful inside and outside of the school environment. Often, the teacher becomes that maternal figure for many children who lack the love outside of school needed to form an attachment. For example, if a student does not have a bond with his or her mother, he or she can easily misbehave with a teacher who shows no affection but grows tremendously with another who fills the role of a mother. There is still much controversy on how influential early attachments are across a lifespan as well as exactly how attachments are transmitted from mother to child. However, research shows that having someone around who can make sense of one’s feelings, hopes, and intentions makes a big difference (Music, 2011).   A child’s need to have an attachment to a mother figure in order to feel secure and to develop healthily both mentally and socially.     

Ultimately, my goal is to inform and educate parents and encourage them to be involved in their child’s life and educational experience. Why is parental involvement so important? Parents are often the first line of defense when it comes to their child’s education, and it is important that they are part of his or her school experience from kindergarten through college. Parental involvement is especially important at the early stages of children’s education because when they are younger, parents are their best advocate. Often, children do not have the life experiences to know what a quality education means for their future.

Parental involvement not only benefits the child but also the parent. Some of the benefits include better relationships with children, a better understanding of the child’s education, and increased confidence in the educational system. The benefits to a child far outweigh the negative implications such as increased self-confidence, feelings of support, increased achievement, and positive behaviors and attitudes toward school that continue through adulthood (Desforges, 2003). There is a positive relation between parental involvement in education and achievement (Kim, 2015).  Ultimately, my goal is that this message have positive, lasting impact on families and encourages them to be active and present in their child’s life.

References

Desforges, C., & Abouchaar, A. (2003). The impact of parental involvement, parental support and family education on pupil achievement and adjustment a literature review. Annesley, Nottingham: DfES Publications.

Kim, S. w., & Hill, N. E. (2015). Including Fathers in the Picture: A Meta-Analysis of Parental Involvement and Students' Academic Achievement. Journal Of Educational Psychology, 107(4), 919-934.

Music, G. (2011). Nurturing natures. East Sussex, NJ: Psychology Press

National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care. (n.d.). Attachment and neuroscience, 1–9. Retrieved from http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/517494/ncercc_neuroscienceattachment.pdf

Nurturing a Child’s Attachment

Nurturing a Child’s Attachment

Children are constantly growing and changing. It is important that families, mainly parents, understand how important their role is in a child’s life in building relationships and forming healthy attachments. Parents play the central role in their children’s growth and development. It is important to understand how a child’s attachment early in life has an impact on their social and emotional development and learning. Which is mainly about understanding how early bonds with parental figures affect a child’s behavior. Nurturing a child is essential and vital to his or her healthy development and growth. Essential ingredients for improving a child’s everyday life are that adults must: encourage children to explore; show them basic skills; praise their accomplishments; help them practice and expand their skills; protect them from disapproval, teasing, or punishment; surround them with rich and responsive language environment (“National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care”).  Children who form secure attachments in infancy have better advantages when it comes to their emotional, social, and academic development. As noted in Music (2011): “A child who is secure at a year is likely to have attachments in most cultures studied, such as being less likely to fight with peers, being more able to play creatively, having good skills at understanding their own and others minds having a better developed sense of their own agency, and being better able to regulate their own emotions” (p.70).  This explains why some children may struggle with social connections with adults and peers and others form social bonds easily.

As educators, it is important that we make sure that parents know how important their role is as a parent and caregiver and what their attachment or non-attachment can mean for a child in their care. The absence of such a figure can do more psychological harm than good to a growing and developing child. Children need to have a support system to feel they can be successful inside and outside of the school environment. Often, the teacher becomes that maternal figure for many children who lack the love outside of school needed to form an attachment. For example, if a student does not have a bond with his or her mother, he or she can easily misbehave with a teacher who shows no affection but grows tremendously with another who fills the role of a mother. There is still much controversy on how influential early attachments are across a lifespan as well as exactly how attachments are transmitted from mother to child. However, research shows that having someone around who can make sense of one’s feelings, hopes, and intentions makes a big difference (Music, 2011).   A child’s need to have an attachment to a mother figure in order to feel secure and to develop healthily both mentally and socially.     

Ultimately, my goal is to inform and educate parents and encourage them to be involved in their child’s life and educational experience. Why is parental involvement so important? Parents are often the first line of defense when it comes to their child’s education, and it is important that they are part of his or her school experience from kindergarten through college. Parental involvement is especially important at the early stages of children’s education because when they are younger, parents are their best advocate. Often, children do not have the life experiences to know what a quality education means for their future.

Parental involvement not only benefits the child but also the parent. Some of the benefits include better relationships with children, a better understanding of the child’s education, and increased confidence in the educational system. The benefits to a child far outweigh the negative implications such as increased self-confidence, feelings of support, increased achievement, and positive behaviors and attitudes toward school that continue through adulthood (Desforges, 2003). There is a positive relation between parental involvement in education and achievement (Kim, 2015).  Ultimately, my goal is that this message have positive, lasting impact on families and encourages them to be active and present in their child’s life.

References

Desforges, C., & Abouchaar, A. (2003). The impact of parental involvement, parental support and family education on pupil achievement and adjustment a literature review. Annesley, Nottingham: DfES Publications.

Kim, S. w., & Hill, N. E. (2015). Including Fathers in the Picture: A Meta-Analysis of Parental Involvement and Students' Academic Achievement. Journal Of Educational Psychology, 107(4), 919-934.

Music, G. (2011). Nurturing natures. East Sussex, NJ: Psychology Press

National Centre for Excellence in Residential Child Care. (n.d.). Attachment and neuroscience, 1–9. Retrieved from http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/517494/ncercc_neuroscienceattachment.pdf

Healthy Prenatal Development

A healthy lifestyle is vital during pregnancy. It is important that a mother maintains a healthy pregnancy by taking care of herself , but also the fetus by ensuring she is seeking proper prenatal care from a physician and also nutrition counseling. The best way to ensure that a have healthy pregnancy and birth is to ensure that you are making healthy lifestyle choices.  Although prenatal visits seem simple and even mundane, their importance can’t be underestimated. Years of research has shown that pregnant women who get adequate prenatal care are more likely to have healthy babies and fewer complications during labor and recovery (Williams, 1999). Research has shown that women who routinely seek medical care through an obstetrician, maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow proper prenatal care will have healthier babies and pregnancy outcomes. It is given that a woman should not consume alcohol while pregnant or smoke, however, some women still do despite the risk. I would also let the mother know that she has made the best choice by choosing not to drink alcohol or smoke during her pregnancy as it would be harmful to the fetus. Smoking is very harmful to a baby during pregnancy.  According to Williams, (1999), “Smokers put their babies at a significantly higher risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and still birth compared with non-smokers. After birth, the babies of mothers who smoked are more likely to have poor lung development, asthma, and respiratory infections, and to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)” (p.20). Drinking alcohol can be very harmful to a fetus because when the mother drinks so does the fetus. Alcohol is a known cause of mental retardation and facial abnormalities in babies, a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (Williams, 1999).  Prohibiting from the use of alcohol, smoking or drugs can help not only while the baby is in utero, but also after the baby is born by preventing after birth complications. 

Williams, R. D. (1999, Mar). Healthy pregnancy, healthy baby. FDA Consumer, 33, 18-22. Retrieved  from http://search.proquest.com/docview/227032285?accountid=14872

Whitehurst, T. (2012). Raising a Child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Hearing the Parent Voice. British Journal Of Learning Disabilities, 40(3), 187-193.

 Advocacy Message: 
It is important help women seek resources and support that promote a healthy pregnancy for a strong family network.   

As an educator, I see so many children who have disability that are pregnancy related and can be prevented or lessened with proper resources. However, many parents do not know the importance of a healthy pregnancy. Often, mothers do not realize the lasting effect of not getting proper prenatal care when pregnant. I feel that it is important to educate mothers and provide then resources when needed.  

I need more people to understand why it is important for mothers to seek proper care when pregnant. Why? Because we can avoid may health and development issues that can affect a child once they are born or even during pregnancy.