Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty is a stressor I once dealt with as a young child.  Coming from a rather small family, my parents seemed to struggle to feed, shelter, and clothe my sister and I.  I can remember wishing and praying for a lot of things my peers had.  My father was the only person working at the time, although, the pay was not that good, plus he had prior kids from his first marriage that he still had to support as well.  My father would get side jobs on the weekend to make ends meet for the next week.  I can remember using candles for lights, and sharing a pack of hotdogs for lunch, and supper. 

The way I can remember coping with this stressor were to always keep the faith.  My parents taught my sister and I how to pray and believe that anything is possible.  They would constantly remind us that no matter what we are family, we are together, and one day we would receive a bigger Blessing.

The one country I would like to learn more about how they deal with poverty is Africa.  Africa is know to be the poorest country in the world.  African sell their crops to pay the interest on their foreign debt.  The children are being sold as slaves just for a meal.  Since Africa is so poor the rate of starvation, and disease is very high.  Although Africa is the poorest country in the world, there are ways for them to make some improvement in their country.  It will take lots of effort, and planning with their government.  Researchers suggest that some parts of Africa has already begin to see changes such as, Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya (Wilmot, V. 2007)

Wilmot, V. (2007). World Poverty. Grimsby, Linc, DN. Retrieved from www.world-poverty.org/

Immunizations

Immunization is a process that is used to fight or immune ones to infectious diseases, by administrating a vaccine.  Immunization is important to me because I work with young children, and it is in my best interest that my students are healthy as possible. 

Getting immunized can help decrease childhood diseases in America.  I learned at a training I attended alone with other teachers that more than 70 infectious disease can cause major problems in young children health if they do not get vaccinated.  Following is a list of diseases that the vaccine prevent young children from getting: 





Measles

Mumps

Rubella (German measles)

Diphtheria

Tetanus

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Poliomyelitis (polio)

Varicella (chickenpox)

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis A

H. influenzae type b (a cause of meningitis)

Influenza (children aged 6 months to 18 years)

Pneumococcal disease

Meningococcal disease (recommended for all children ages 11 and up; recommended for high-risk children 2-10 years of age).

Rotavirus (children aged 6 - 32 weeks)

Australian Government has introduced reforms to Australia's family to increase immunization rates in their country.  They are allowed to claim Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebates if their children are current on their immunizations.  Child Care Benefit helps cover cost of child care, family day care, vacation care, after school programs, and pre-school.  Child Care Rebate is an addition to Child Care Benefit for approved care for each additional child. 



The impact immunization has on my job would be a higher spread of diseases; however my job has a written plan explaining the requirements that a child must meet in order to stay enrolled at Head Start.  If parents failed to get their children immunized most students will lack a good education due to more sickness.  As an educator the impact wold affect me as a teacher, because the need for teachers to teach will be very low and I may not have a job.