Child Development: Adversities, Protective Environments, Vulnerability, and Resilience

This essay discusses the impact of adversities on the healthy development of children, the importance of protective environments, the concept of vulnerability, and strategies to build resilience. The case study of Sarah, a shy and unhappy girl, is used to illustrate these concepts. The essay also explores different theories and frameworks, such as Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Subject: Child Development

Child Development

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Adversities that influence healthy development of Sarah...........................................................1
Protective Environments.............................................................................................................3
Vulnerability...............................................................................................................................4
Resilience....................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

Introduction
Child development is defined as sequence of languages, physical, emotional and thought
changes which occur among child from their birth till adulthood. Basically, it involves process
by which human beings grow as well as mature from infancy through adulthood (Berry and
Willoughby, 2017). The different aspects associated with growth along with development are
being measured via their physical, social and cognitive growth.
The essay is based on case study of Sarah who is older than two children and their
parents have been separated and it was a fresh start for them as there was infrequent contact with
their father. They have started going to school in new area and as per the teachers, Sarah is
unhappy and shy girl little girl that do not interact them with other students.
This essay will comprise of a Social worker who will assist Sarah within development of
their resilience through the usage of different theories. In addition to this, adversities, protective
environment and vulnerabilities will also be furnished.
Adversities that influence healthy development of Sarah
Different situations may take place within that creates a direct impact on healthy as well
as mental situation of the children. This clearly denotes that parents have vital role on the mental
as well as physical growth of children. They provides protection to their children so that they can
be prevented from certain problems and have happy growth. Sarah lives with her mother within
new area and hardly have any contact with her father which leads to make her unhappy. There
are distinct kind of adversities that create a pessimistic influence on mental health of the child
(Keenan, Evans and Crowley, 2016). This was the major reason due to which Sarah was not able
to mix up with other students and was shy to communicate or share her feelings with others.
With reference to case of Sarah, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory can be
applied as this will yield social worker with adequate results as it will enable them to assist the
child to come out of their shell (Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, 2020.). This
theory will assist within having understanding with respect to ways in which environment
interacts to create an influence on growth as well as development of children. The emphasis is
laid on studying the children with reference to multiple environments. For an instance, the
behaviour of Sarah when the family was together may be different as compared to present
situation where family is separated. This will assist within identification as well as assist child to
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grow (McQuillan and Bates, 2017). Basically, the stages of development will be mapped with
reference to both internal along with external environment. This is evident that the residential
atmosphere in which Sarah lives is not normal as compared to other kids and this is clear that it
is created a significant impact on mental health of the child.
Microsystem is initial stage as per the theory, which illustrates immediate environment
where children live. This comprises of home, daycare or school, community environment and
peer group. Mental as well as emotional development of Sarah is discontinuous because of
consequences that are being faced due to immediate environment (Moore, 2017). The fact is that
siblings and parents behaviour have deep impact and this leads to creation of fluctuations within
their behavioural aspects. In this, stage it is identified that Sarah needs to have more supportive
and nurturing interaction from her mother so that she can have improvised development. They
have siblings but the reaction of person may vary depending upon their temperament, age or
biological factors.
The next system is mesosystem which illustrates that relationships are being made from
groups that have been identified within the first system. As per teachers feedback related with
Sarah, she is shy but the initiative can be taken from other side also like if Sarah do not interact
then other students can start conversation or teacher can act as intermediary between them so that
child can open up within they peculiar environment. Exosystem creates an impact on life of child
like time that is being given by mother of Sarah to her. Sarah is emotionally not stable at present
situation due to the separation which denotes that they need additional care and affection.
Macrosystem is the another stage that depicts the cultural elements that creates an impact on
child. This creates a significant impact on child as their group is changed and have direct impact
on their growth (Mercer, 2018). Chronosystem illustrates situation through which they go
through.
This has been illustrated by teacher of Sarah that she is unhappy and shy as compared to
other students of the same age group. The reason behind behaviour as well as personality
alterations of Sarah is due to the lack of associations with society. The immediate change within
the residence place has created a pessimistic influence on Sarah. It is difficult for Sarah to move
ahead within this environment and have adverse impact of conditions of Sarah.
The Piagets theory for cognitive development illustrates the child while growing moves
through four different stages with respect to mental development (Nilsson and de Lopez, 2016).
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As per this theory emphasis is laid on having understanding of ways in which child acquire
knowledge and nature of intelligence. There are different stages but with reference to Sarah, she
is in Pre-operational stage in which child thinks in symbolical manner and learn to frame pictures
as well as pictures for representation of objects. Here, child tends to think from their own
perspective and they thinks in concrete manner. But with reference to the case, there will be
restricted development of the Sarah as she is surrounded with her own perspectives as she hardly
interact with anyone other surrounding them and is shy. This clearly depicts that she will not be
developed as a normal child and is lost within her own thoughts rather than involving with others
(Nores and Fernandez, 2018).
Protective Environments
The room that comprises of affirmative atmospheric pressure with respect to their
surroundings is referred to as protective environment. It is the critical aspect which acts as
essential with reference to child development. This involves prevalence situations like abuse
physical, emotional or mental, exploitation, etc. The development of Sarah is influenced due to
separation of their parents thus it is essential that both children are being kept within the
protective environment. This comprises of surroundings like cultural beliefs, life skills,
legislations, monitoring as well as support from distinct local organisations. The protective
involvement must be provided to each child so that they can get support for getting out of the
situations they are going within their mind as well as surroundings (Singer, 2017). This will
assist within minimisation of relapse through which adverse conditions can be handled.
The experience that is being created by child within their childhood is reflected later via
their actions. With reference to this case, Sarah has developed emotional breakdown due to
separation of her parents. This has broken down the protective environment of the child and
which further leads to alterations within their behaviour. Like a normal child plays or speaks a
lot irrespective of whether it makes any sense or not they just speak. But Sarah was shy who
hardly spoke and sat alone. This is critical for parents, teachers as well as people within the
microsystem to identify and distinguish the alterations within her behaviour. This will lead to
minimisation within the pessimistic impact that is being created. An example can be taken to
understand this aspect like when people speak with child in any context they get involved in that
and this will help them to get release from situations or different memories going inside their
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mind (Wohlwill, 2016). The society have to make active participation like rather than asking
about their father it is better to avoid this question and help them to grow normally.
Social settings and certain factorial benefits help in building a protective environment
which stimulates good growth of children. Sarah's condition has not touched the worse point till
now and can be improved if she is also placed in a protective zone. All the components of her
ecological system like the family, friends, teachers, care practitioners, cultural values and
ethnicity should be in coherence with the fact that Sarah requires certain attention in terms of
care.
Vulnerability
The condition that expose individual to certain kind of abuse or harm is referred to as
vulnerability. With reference to Sarah this factor is very high as the emotional state of child is
not stable. There are various situations to which child is exposed to at a young age (Berry and
Willoughby, 2017). The window of vulnerabilities is utilised by care practitioners as well as care
takers so that they can opt for certain precautionary measures which can be taken up within
peculiar time frame so that overall vulnerabilities can be minimised or eradicated completely
with the passage of time. Ecological system of development that is being given Bronfenbrenner
illustrates the entities that aids within overall and collective growth of children by minimisation
of influence that is being created by external environment. This is crucial that each factor leads
to creation of affirmative contribution. There is high probability that Sarah may get involved
with people who may have bad influence. The reason behind this is that she do not interact with
school students and classmates. Society and family have identify all the vulnerable factors that
are creating influence on the child and accordingly provides services to them.
In case if protective environment of child is broken then it makes them more vulnerable
to certain situations and this can have worse impact on their overall growth. The marital break
down of parents has lead to separation of parents of Sarah and this has hampered the emotional
condition of child. In addition to this, the protective environment of child has also broken. When
an individual is emotionally not stable then the cases vulnerability along with subjectivity gets
increased in context of abuse that will be experienced by child (Keenan, Evans and Crowley,
2016). Even people raise fingers on mother of Sarah which will lead to creation of adverse
impact on mental stability of the child.
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Child bullying has became a common phenomenon that will be experienced by child
when they are shy as well as communicate less within the educational premises like school
irrespective whether it is primary, secondary or high school. The condition of Sarah makes her
more vulnerable to child bullying that obviously means lack of safety within the school along
with high emotional breakdown. Mother of Sarah needs to take extra care so that the unhappy
state of child do not gets converted within severe mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
Prevalence of vulnerable situations will deteriorate professional as well as personal development
that may ruin their awaited future (McQuillan and Bates, 2017). As a social worker, different
strategies can be communicated to people surrounding Sarah so that she can be helped rise above
the mental state she is at present time frame. Both the parents have to realise both decisions with
reference to the influence that is being experienced by the child. Effectual communication along
with social welfare are critical strategic steps that aids within eradication of vulnerabilities as
well as enhancement within strengths of protective environment.
Resilience
Resilience refers to recovery practice in which patients are being provisioned with certain
kind of therapeutical treatment so that they can be helped to come from any traumatic condition.
Sarah is dealing with stressful condition at present scenario due to separation of parents. Both the
parents plays a significant role in the development of their child, where such events directly hurt
the psychology of the child to a great extent. However, she is recently facing some difficulties in
adjusting with her classmates and teachers in school and is also showing a lack of interest in
participating (Moore, 2017). In such case, it is important for Sarah's mother to consider building
a close relationship with Sarah. This in turn makes it crucial for her mother to seek the assistance
of optimism for which she is always required to present herself in a positive manner.
For which, she can also consider referring to some factors contributing to the creation of
resilience in children that mainly involves biologic endowments, individual health practices with
personal capability and skills to cope up to further promote a healthy mental development. It is
also on considering some individual factors of child development that includes a major
contribution of stimulation and their style of parenting (Mercer, 2018). All these factors properly
considered by Sarah's mother will help her to build resilience in Sarah.
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Conclusion
From above it can be concluded that, child goes through different phases due to the
situations which prevails within their home. As per the present situation, Sarah is depressed due
to the conditions which prevails among their parents. This has created a adverse impact on
psychology of child. This is bifurcated within four leading parts that illustrates adversities with
reference to behaviour of child with respect to protective environment. Depending upon the
adversities, the protective environment and vulnerabilities have been identified so that they can
be handled in precise manner.
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References
Books & Journals
Berry, D. and Willoughby, M. T., 2017. On the practical interpretability of cross‐lagged panel
models: Rethinking a developmental workhorse. Child development. 88(4). pp.1186-
1206.
Keenan, T., Evans, S. and Crowley, K., 2016. An introduction to child development. Sage.
McQuillan, M. E. and Bates, J. E., 2017. Parental stress and child temperament. In Parental
stress and early child development (pp. 75-106). Springer, Cham.
Mercer, J. A., 2018. Child development: concepts and theories. SAGE.
Moore, R. C., 2017. Childhood's domain: Play and place in child development (Vol. 6).
Routledge.
Nilsson, K. K. and de Lopez, K. J., 2016. Theory of mind in children with specific language
impairment: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Child Development. 87(1). pp.143-
153.
Nores, M. and Fernandez, C., 2018. Building capacity in health and education systems to deliver
interventions that strengthen early child development. Annals of the New York Academy
of Sciences. 1419(1). pp.57-73.
Singer, E., 2017. Child-care and the psychology of development (Vol. 12). Routledge.
Wohlwill, J. F., 2016. The study of behavioral development. Academic Press.
Online
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. 2020. [Online]. Available through:
<https://exploringyourmind.com/bronfenbrenners-ecological-systems-theory/>.
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