Stress in early childhood

This week, we have been asked to identify and reflect on different stressors in the lives of young children.  In this day and age, there are so many worldwide, from natural disaster to war and poverty.  The idea that children are resilient is common, but we are left to wonder about the long-term effects of stress on the developing child.

In my own childhood, I can recall very little stress.  My family was stable, always employed, and we were happy.  We didn't have everything we wanted, but we had everything we needed.  Living in the Midwest, there was little threat of natural disaster or war, however, I do recall being fearful of war.  When the US invaded Grenada in 1983, I remember watching the coverage with my dad and asking if we were going to war.  I was too young to fully understand the situation and how minor the incident was.  All I knew was that people died in war and I was afraid of a similar invasion of Minnesota.  This is a great illustration of the impact media has on young children.  I was lucky to have parents that responded to my questions and reassured me that there would be no invasion of Minnesota, but I internalized what I saw on TV in those days and remember feeling anxious whenever people would talk about it.

For children directly affected by war and violence, the impact can be long-lasting and early intervention is crucial.  In a study of refugee families in Australia that had experienced war-related violence and stress, the use of supportive play groups provided them with an outlet to process what they had experienced and gain a sense of stability (Jackson, 2006).  The study was an intervention that provided families with programming for the children and families.  It was intended to allow for the exploration of the events that had occurred in a safe and nurturing environment.  The children were enrolled in a supportive playgroup for five or more hours in the day and the families were given opportunities to participate as well.  The findings indicated that the structure and content of the playgroup, the relationships between the child and parent, and the sensitivity to separation anxiety in this population were some of the most critical factors in ensuring the success and protective nature of the project (Jackson, 2006).

It is important for us to remember that children are resilient, but for those that have seen tragedy, they need support and an environment in which to recover and feel protected.  War-related trauma is not a common issue in the lives of children in the U.S., but with their access to media and all that is happening worldwide, we need to be vigilant and sensitive to their questions about what they are seeing and hearing.

Reference:

Jackson, D. (2006). Playgroups as Protective Environments for Refugee Children at Risk of Trauma. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 31(2), 1-5. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.