Adverse Childhood Experiences - Essay Sample

Introduction

The psychological and physical transitions that children undergo during birth and through adolescence often cause caregivers and parents to wonder how best they can intervene and be of help to them. During childhood development that occurs can include everything from language, socialization skills, motor skills and sensory awareness which are mainly determined by the cognitive abilities, the genetic makeup of the child and their environment. A child's experiences during development can, however, be tracked by parents and caregivers with developmental milestones. In this case when the child learns something or takes part in any activity the parent can identify the child's learning disabilities as well as existing behavioral issues the child goes through and address them at an early stage (Berk, 2017). The primary aim of the essay is to define adverse experiences that children go through and the bearing that they have on the ultimate capabilities of the child during his or her life.

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Children exhibit varying emotional and physical needs depending on their development stage and personality. According to researchers in neuroscience, pediatrics, and psychology, the first five years of a child are a vital stage in defining the outcome of the child. During maturation, children engage in many activities and go through many phases enabling them to learn reasoning and verbal skills, develop their socialization skills, assert their independence from their guardians and parents as well as explore the environment around them. Childhood is made up of two principal stages including the particular scene and preoperational stage. The views are essential for the child in that the parental care and love determine how the child can succumb adverse experiences and remain loving and socially active (Berk, 2017).

Experiences that children face during development act as the founding basis of the adult life of the child. Primary determiners of the backgrounds are the environmental conditions and the type of love and parental care directed towards the toddler which determine whether the experiences are good or bad. According to research significant experiences affecting toddlers within the society include domestic violence, divorce, isolation, the death of parents, sexual abuse, domestic violence, lack of basic needs, emotional and psychological abuse as well as neglect from parents and guardians. The experiences affect children not only in families but also in those placed in child monitoring institutions such as foster care. However, the level of effect the experiences have on the child vary depending on the environment they are brought up. Children brought up in foster homes tend to experience minimal effects from the exposures whereas those with families and parents seem to be affected profoundly by such events.

The events lead to adverse effects among kids and often lead to unfavorable changes in character among the toddlers which can occur at any stage both childhood and adulthood. They result in the loss of self-confidence, and some cases lead to lifespan reduction among the affected children due to stress and trauma. As a result, they change the child's ability to socialize and make friends leading to less association with the society. In most cases, children who lack help and the ability to overcome such situations often result in drug abuse and alcoholism due to the mental damage caused by the experiences and the stress that the event inflicted on them. Adverse experiences also result in alterations within the child's life leading to lack of sleep, suicidal thoughts, early pregnancies, poor feeding habits, isolation and health deterioration (Berardi, 2016). Some can also become rude and aggressive leading to fear within those around them and emotional suffering within the individual. Additionally, parents who use corporal punishment to guide their children end up suffering from psychological problems and fear.

Socialization is an essential tool for every toddler in that adequate social skills enables one to coexist with other members of the society thus improving one's ability to interact with others. Parents play a vital role in functional interaction with their children. The functional interactions enable the child to have a strong base of socialization by enhancing communication skills and self-confidence. Parents who allow their children to associate without limitations will let the child to make friends and associate efficiently, on the other hand, parents who limit their children from associating with others cause their children to have difficulties in making new friends and communicating effectively with others. The entire family is required to guide the child rather than limiting them from essential childhood experiences which have positive value on the child's character. However, some experiences within the family such as divorce have a negative impact on the child's life. Separation of parents results in mockery by other children and isolation feeling within the child who can often result in negative perceptions concerning people and marriage (Merrel & Gimpel, 2014).

Parents are the initial role models of a child followed by the family as they work their way through development. The environment, media, and learning institutions also have an impact on the child's future. At a young age, children learn by mimicking actions that occur around them. Negative influences at this particular age can have an adverse impact on the child's behavior and character. The way people around them depict their feelings determines how the child handles theirs when they mature. Family and friends are important factors in shaping the attitude and behavior of the toddler by enriching them with spending memories which enables them to instill high self-esteem within themselves.

Conclusion

Adverse childhood experience can alter the life of a child negatively or positively depending on the type of memories one holds. In most cases, negative experiences tend to retain themselves within the mind of an individual compared to positive experiences. The existence of such memories determines how a child will address significant issues within their lives and alters their socialization abilities leading to fewer interactions with society. Children who have undergone traumatizing experiences are advised to undergo therapy which allows them to establish control over their thoughts and character and at the same time will enable them to successfully interact with their environ and make friends within the society.

References

Berardi, A. (2016). Trauma Response Institute. Retrieved from Dr. Anna Berardi, TRMA500, George Fox University.

Berk, L. (2017). Development through the lifespan. Pearson Education India.

Merrell, K. W., & Gimpel, G. (2014). Social skills of children and adolescents: Conceptualization, assessment, treatment. Psychology Press.