Daddy & me

Daddy & me

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Impact on Early Emotional Development


I choose West and Central Africa.  I choose Africa because I would like to visit this country one day and was interested to find out more about this area of the world.  The children in West and Central Africa are faced with a lot of challenges such as disease.  Many children die of malaria diarrheoal diseases and vaccine preventable diseases such as the measles.  Malnutrition is widespread in the region.  In the Sahel countries half of the child mortality is related to under-nutrition in children.  1.1 million children under 5 will suffer acute malnutrition and 3 million will suffer moderate acute malnutrition.  Poverty and traditional beliefs keep 40% of children out of school and girls in particular are penalized the most.  If children do attend school they are faced with sexual and other forms of violence in school.  Many of the children in this region are exploited in other ways as well child trafficking, child labor, children in armed conflicts, children victims of harmful traditional practices.  There are many children who are orphaned by AIDS.  In West and Central Africa today there are close to 5 million children who have been left without the caring and protection of one or both of their parents. 

The children in West and Central Africa are faced with many challenges that threaten their well-being.  The problem of malnutrition is causing deaths of many children in this region.  As for the children that survive malnutrition their physical development is delayed and jeopardized.  Malnutrition affects these young children’s brain development which can cause developmental delays.  Many of the children who have lost parents to the AIDS virus will suffer emotional problems due to a lack of emotional support that a parent or parents offer young children. 

It is very hard to read about the afflictions and challenges young children around the world are experiencing.  I am glad that I am teaching in America since we are not faced with such widespread hunger and exploitation.  I am glad that I live in America, but feel an obligation toward the young children in other countries that are not experiencing a healthy childhood.  While reading about West and Central Africa I kept thinking what can I do to make a difference in some of these young children’s lives.  Can I volunteer to go to Africa to teach or maybe I can participate in mission work.  I feel that all Early Childhood Professionals should take an active part in trying to make the lives of these children better.



Reference: UNICEF (2011). http://www.unicef.org


3 comments:

  1. It is heart breaking that children around the world face such malnutrition. It is often easily forgotten here in America where we do not see this in the extreme instances that it does occur around the world. I think it is very neat that you are interested in teaching in Africa. I helped with an organization that a young by started called Books for Africa! It is very easy to become involved in! You should check it out.

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  2. I chose to research West and Central Africa as well. It is a region of the world that I have mental images of but wanted to know exactly what it was like there for young children. Along with the information you shared about the region, there is genital mutilation of girls ages 4-14. I wonder if people from this region are as appalled with the emotional torture young children are being put through as we are.

    I am going to look into the Books for Africa organization mentioned above. I'd like to help out in any way possible to being joy to children.

    Caitlyn

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  3. Fawn,

    I too find it difficult to read about the afflictions that children around the world are going through. It breaks my heart to know that children around the world are suffering and do not have what children here in America have. I too wonder what I can do to make a difference in these children's lives. It is neat that you would like to volunteer to teach there. I also like the idea of organizations that could help these children. I like the idea of a breakfast club that could at least ensure that the children had one good meal for the day.

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