Consequences of Stress on Children's development

Thankful I have never struggled with hunger, racism, or many of the other stressors that often affect children’s development today. As a child I was raised in poverty. My parents had a few large gardens and we raised chickens and hen; therefore, we always had vegetables and meat to eat. I was often teased because I didn’t have many clothes to wear. I was also raised as a Pentecostal, so it really didn’t help that the clothes that I did wear were large and covered the majority of my body. I was content however because I knew that I was well taken care of. Of course there were always things that I wanted but I always had what I needed to survive.

As an adult, I have two mixed children. I feel that as a result of them being mixed they have gone thru social acceptance issues. At times I feel like they don’t know if how they are behaving or what they are doing is accepted with the set of people they are with. My family is white and their dad’s family is black. When they are at their dad’s I feel like they are judged and at times they are told, “Oh that is a white thing.”  Things are often said in a joking manner however I feel that it affect them socially. Things such as, “He can’t throw a ball because he is white.” I know that it hurt my son when things are said to him or about him like this. I fear that it will have a negative impact on him.  

            I light of stressors on children I researched Earthquakes in Asia. I have a friend that lives in Asia on a mission’s tour. She has been there for four years and plans to be there for many years to come. When they came to our church recently she told us about the large amount of earthquakes in Asia. For instance just four days ago they had one of the largest earthquakes since 2010 in Asia. This 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed 230 people. This past July they also had one that killed 95 people. I can imagine the negative impact of this may have on a child. I can’t imagine living in fear of an earthquake.

     

 

Deadliest earthquakes in Asia since 2010 . (2013, Septemeber ). Retrieved from South China Morning Post-Asia: http://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/1317686/deadliest-earthquakes-asia-2010