Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

   This week we are talking about stresses that can affect a child and that child’s development. As a child I do remember one stressor that affected my life. Compared to others my childhood was relatively stress free but experiencing a natural disaster is something that I will never forget. Living in North Carolina, hurricanes are somewhat common and can happen every year. One hurricane that I can remember during my childhood that was unlike any other I have experienced. Hurricane Fran hit North Carolina on September 1996. I remember this as my first hurricane experience and the worst. The lights went out, winds howled, trees feel on the house, and I was scared that the house would cave in. Luckily our house was not damaged but as a 6 year old it was quite a scary experience. I remember sleeping in our hall bathroom and being without power for weeks. It was a while before we were able to go back to school because many parts of where I lived were flooded, even the school. Thankfully, everyone I knew was okay and not hurt. We had to pull together with our neighbors and community to help repair damages and support each other.

                                     

   Even though I went through a natural disaster I can see all around the world where there is more fatal damage than what I went through. During hurricane season, June to November, there is a more potential threat of hurricanes in the Caribbean and Central America. After a hard-hitting hurricane or tropical storm, children are left with disaster in his/her community. Some have to deal with the loss of family members which can lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Children may also seem to become more aggressive and distant with others. In the community the loss of agriculture and food can lead to malnutrition in children which can affect their growth and development (Barrios, Stansbury, Palencia & Medina, 2000). Stress can affect a child’s brain development and can lead to child to have deficits in learning and in memory. Children exposed to stress can develop major depression and PTSD. But while these factors are negative there is some positive in that a child can overcome these factors and develop and live a normal life (Berger, 2012). There are many organizations out there that help those who experience natural disasters and can ultimately help a child that is in need.

Some are:

http://www.redcross.org/ - American Red Cross

http://hands.org/ - Hands on Disaster Response

http://www.rescue.org/ - International Rescue Committee

http://www.savethechildren.org – Save the Children Disaster Relief

References

Berger, K.S. (2012). The developing person through childhood. (6^th ed.). New York, NY:    Worth Publishers.

Barrios, R. E., Stansbury, J. P., Palencia, R., & Medina, M. T. (2000). Nutritional status of  children under 5 years of age in three hurricane-affected areas of honduras. Retrieved  from http://www.scielosp.org/pdf/rpsp/v8n6/3955.pdf