Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

Childhood Hunger causes stress

As a very young child growing up, I can surely  say that I experience hunger or a lack of food as a child. I would not say that I did not get any food, but I can say that I did not receive a full balance meal. As an adult, I never let my children  leave home without breakfast or money for their lunch and most of the time they take lunch just in case they don't like what the school has for lunch. Hunger causes a child not to be able to develop and grow normally and cause stress on the child. 

As a child, I would have to think about what we were going to eat and how was my mother going to feed us because she was disable and was a single parent. As an adult, and I see child in that is going through what I experience I help parent to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it gets the brain ready for the work that is has to do. As a young child, I did not suffer from from issues that most children suffer from but I did worry if my mom would be able to provide a meal for me an my little brother which cause stress as a child. Children who have to worry about food, the family have finance problems,like my mom was a single parent who was disable with limited income. I have learned over the years that child go through as much stress as the adults.

In countries such as Africa, families have less that $1 to live off, and the stats says that 41% of Africa is undernourished.  When reading about countries where children are starving hurts my heart to see so many people close to me that take food for granted. There are a lot people who do not have as much as we do and wish that they could eat and drink we do. I try to help others in my community who are in need a meal or child who even needs a snack, I have started to coupon and receive foods that will help others. 

I can’t think of any issue that is more important than working to see that no schoolchild in this world goes hungry.

-- Drew Barrymore

Child Development and Public Health

Children nutrition means a lot to me because as a teacher, parent and educator, I get a chance to help parents understand how important nutrition is to their children. Good nutrition helps children brain development. Good nutrition include helping parents to understand how to eat correctly and how to prepare healthy foods for their children. All children need food that is going to help them grow up to be healthy adults with healthy brains for learning. Nutrition help children be able to learn and thrive and be able to learn at their capacities which one day will enable them to be successful citizens. 


Malnutrition is a disease that happens when children are not receiving the correct foods and amount of food needed to be healthy. I chose these topics because I work with children and families and you would not know that so many children do not receive a balanced meal. As communities, we need to look closer at nutrition and malnutrition because it is closer to home than we think. 


I always wanted to know about Somalia, I learned that there is a significant number of children that die from hunger in a day that we will ever realize.  The numbers are so startling. I try to help with the problem in our community, I sponsor a food drive for the local care station that feeds people in our community. 


www. children health center. org
www. nutrition .org

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one.

GLORIA STEINEM

Twenty years ago, I got to experience childbirth at an very early age. On a hot day in June 1991, my first born entered into this world. The baby was wrinkle, pail and screaming to the top of his lungs. Those are all things I remember about my childbirth. But I will never forget that I placed my left hand in my baby hand and the infant squeezed so tight that as if he know I was his mom and he did not  let go. I will never forget the first actual touch to my child after a c-section. I always wanted to have natural birth, but due to health issues I can not. I try to tell everyone that the first touch of your child is a moment that you will never forget.

It was like he was waiting to grab my finger and hold onto it. I was nervous, scared and sick all at the same time, but I got through it. I only had the support system of my mom. Over the last eight years I have gotten to experience childbirth up close and personal. The experience is life changing to see the action thing happening. I have also gotten to see what my mom did not see when I had my son, I have also been the the operating room to  see a c-section performed which will knock you off your feet if you have can't take it.  I used what I had learned from my experience of childbirth to help someone else experience better. I have a coworker who did not have anyone, so I was her support person.


I always wanted to know how Japanese childbirth were doctors are addressed as "Sensei" in Japanese. You have the choice to have a natural birth, water birth and a C-section is only given in case of severe health circumstance. In Japan there is may hospitals to choose from. 


Doctors  favor very "natural" pregnancy and childbirth. They do not prescribe prenatal vitamins of any kind, but encourage the mother to eat healthy, walk if it is possible and be active in general if there is no problem with the pregnancy. And they also advise you to control your weight - more than 10-12 kilos over your normal weight before pregnancy is considered too much as they fear complications before and during birth. So, limit your calorie intake and try to eat as many foods containing calcium and iron as possible. Do not expect epidurals or some other anesthetics during childbirth. Cesarean is also very limited. About the father's presence during birth - some hospitals OK it, but some do not.