Cosequences of Stress on Children's Development

Divorce

At about the age of 12 years old my parents entered into divorce. It was something that surprised me. I saw no signs of it coming but it happened. This was a major stressors in my life that turned my life up side down. I honestly don't think I really coped with it until I rededicated my life back to Christ in  August 2006. Until them I just struggled with major issues of low self esteem and abandonment. I felt like I had no one. Until I met Jesus. I started to walk in Christ and was healed from unforgiveness and low-self esteem. I am free walking in liberty everyday! What I mostly remember during my parents divorce was the division that it caused between me and my sister. I was very close to my dad and she was very close to my mom and that caused problems once my dad was not in the house. I was forced to conform to somethings that I did not like. At one point I lost my identity and walked very lost for a long time. In Christ I have found who I am and the purpose God has given me and I am currently walking in it right now. I was given the vison of my daycare in December 2009 and I got my license in April 2010. So even though that was a stressor in my life I now look at my parents divorce as a light affliction that was only for a moment. Now I use my short cumming as a ministry tool for my children at the daycare. To God Be The Glory!
I also studied the divorce and effects on children in Australia. These are some facts I found very interesting. In the article "Divorce Rates in Ameica and Other Western Countries" it states:

"Since 1981 divorce rates, while fluctuating, have shown an increasing trend; there were 55,300 divorces granted in Australia in 2001, the highest number granted in the last 20 years. This was an increase of 5,400 on the number of divorces granted in 2000 and an increase of 13,900 on 1981. 17% of couples had divorced within the first five years of marriage, while a further 26% had divorced in the following five-year period. The most common single interval between marriage and divorce was between five and six years (6%). In 2001 the median duration of marriage to divorce was 12 years, up from 10 years in 1981". (Abs.gov.au)
Parkinson states "in Australia most children revert ot the care of the mother" (Parkinson, 2011). The effects of divorce are all the same across the world. Children are left to feel the most effects of this change and it is something that will have to be healed from. It is a long process but I am a witness that you can be free!

References:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011). " Divorce Rates in America and other Western Countries" www.divorceguide.com

Parkinson, Patrick (2011). "Shared Parenting:The New Frontier" Family Law and the Indissolubility of Parenthood.

SIDS-Cosleeping

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a situation in which a seemingly healthy infant at least 2 months of age, suddenly stops breathing and dies unexpectedly while asleep (Berger, 2009). This situation is very common around the world. There are many ways researchers say are best preventions of SID. These preventions are not always true based on cultural viewpoints. The main way researchers said that SID could be prevented is from sleeping with the parent. This is also called co-sleeping. Co-sleeping is a custom in which parents and their children sleep together. The controversy that's going on is researcher have shown recent research that co-sleeping is not as harmful as sleeping in the crib. In the article "Co-sleeping & SID facts" it states: the crib industry wants you to know that 60% of "accidental" infant deaths have accrued per year in adult beds" (Palmer, 2005). Several well-designed researchers studies demonstrate that SIDS is actually reduced in babies co-sleeping along with an aware, protective, non-smoking or non-drug using, mother in a safe bed (Palmer, 2005).
Around the world co-sleeping is a norm. In much of southern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, mothers and babies routinely share sleep (McKenna, 2007). SIDS occurrences are among the lowest in the world in Hong Kong, where co-sleeping is extremely common (McKenna, 2007).
This research was very interested for me because choose to put my son in the bassinet by my bed as an infant. I think for all my children I will do the same. I feel that lying them in a bassinet is less risky that a huge crib. Co-sleeping is any option sometimes for bonding purposes but I will choose ultimately the bassinet. This information was very informative and I can use this in my daycare as information to pass to my parents and colleagues.

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

McKenna, James (2007). Cosleeping Around the World. www.naturalchild.org

Palmer,Linda (2002). Cosleeping & SIDS Fact Sheet. www.thebabybond.com

My Birthing Experience!

Thinking back to the day I found out I was pregnant with my son, Isaiah, I remembered being very surprised and unprepared. I had Isaiah on Febuary 06, 2004. He was a week over due and I had to be induced. Throughout my pregnancy the most important thing I did was read to him daily and make sure to take my vitamins every day. Both of these things help with his brain and body development. To this day Isaiah is very interested in reading and writing books. He also likes to write plays. I chose to use my birthing experience for this example because this was the first time I had a this kind of experience up and close. Child birth is very important to Early Childhood development because development starts in the womb. Without the proper prenatal care a child could be born with life long ailments that could have been avoided.

In, Australia babies aren't announced until they are 12 weeks. This period is called the waiting period. They do this because it is most common to have a miscarriage at this time so they wait to announce and also wait to see the doctor until then. Mothers have there children at a  birthing center where there are no doctors, no medicine, and no pelvic exams. Midwives are only there and the mothers are all in one room with other mothers giving birth. After have the baby they are released within 24-hours. During that first week home the midwives that delivered the baby come and visit them to ensure that they are fine.

Reference:

Kohri, Nora 1998. "Childbirth of the World". www.angelfire.com