Early Developmental Experiences

Throughout the course of the human lifespan, the period of most rapid development extends through infancy and early childhood. The early stages of development that occur during this time set the stage upon which further and more specific aspects of development will occur. There are many different external and internal components which influence and guide development during this time. These components include the individual’s family, including more specific parenting styles, as well as early education and the individual’s social environment. Each of these various aspects of development plays a critical and widespread role in these initial stages of development.

During my observation at the preschool here at Harper, I looked around and realized a lot of similarities and differences it has; compared to other daycare and preschool centers. The age of children in the room I observed was ages 3-5 with one lead teacher, and depending on the ratio of how many kids showed up on that day, about three or four helping teachers. The program was set up to a very open, happy and overwhelming setting. Every furniture and object in the room had a sign saying what it was, and then underneath the typed out word was the children’s way of writing what the object was. For example, a book shelf was in the corner of the room; on the book shelf was the word printed out “Book

Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) relates to both acute and chronic depressive disorders. Chapman et.al, suggests that exposure to ACEs is associated with increased risk of depressive disorders even after years of the initial experience (Chapman et al., 2004). Recognizing early life stress and intervening appropriately may thus play an important role in preventing depression throughout life.

The prenatal period is when quick changes in the fetal organs are vulnerable to organizing change and stability but also building internal working system to trigger emotional responses (McEwen et al. 2013). It is a critical time for brain development and the PFC (McEwen et al. 2013). It exposes a selection of long -term modifications on brain development and behaviour (Entringer et al. 2009). Prenatal exposure to stress affects hormones in the body including the physiology and anatomy that relate to increasing drug levels, cortical communication and more (Entringer et al. 2009). Fetal stress is any event that interrupts a fetal process in stability in the body. (Entringer et al. 2009). During pregnancy, maternal stress impends the fetal nervous system and shortens the length of maturation due to many issues and concerns affecting the mother (Entringer et al. 2009). During pregnancy, maternal psychosocial stress threatens the fetal nervous system and contracts the length of gestation (Entringer et al. 2009). High levels of placental corticotrophin- releasing hormone

Gender socialization is learning expected behaviors about one’s own sex based on society norms. Gender socialization has great impact on the health of both men and women. In our society, the assigned gender roles when adhered strictly can be detrimental to the overall mental and physical of health status of people. If males and females has to live within the society construct of what the roles of the genders should be, then there is great danger of not living a fulfil lives if one deviates from the assigned roles that the society demands.

There are many different types of stress; for example, stressors can include family life, addictions, and additional disorders. Typically, the disorder runs in families (Colvin 269) and there is a three times greater chance of the development of depression if it is present in the family already (Colvin 272). The major reason why depression runs in families is that depressed individuals typically raise children differently than healthy individuals. Depression and antisocial tendencies also occur together. Specifically, antisocial parents tend to have a hostile and inconsistent parenting style, lack parental warmth, and are more negative individuals (Silberg 668). These parental characteristics impact the children by promoting negative behaviors and hostility. When a parent is addicted to alcohol or drugs, the children are directly impacted (Silberg 669). If a child or teenager has an addiction, they will usually develop depression as well. Abnormal amounts of stress, due to multiple factors, are shown to lead to the development of depression or even MDD. Along with an excessive amount of stressors, high cortisol levels that usually result from excessive amounts of stress also lead to the onset of

Parental loss and separation has been connected to a variety of adverse early experiences, including family conflict, socioeconomic disadvantage, neglect and abuse (Rutter, 2006). Exposure to such adversity may lead to a cascade of problematic social development that results in increased vulnerability to psychosis (Read et al, 2005).

For each shelf, center, table, chair and anything that can hold a label, I would like to have it label with a little clip art picture on it. For the chairs around the eating tables, which are rectangular, I would like to have the children's name printed on them. That way the children know what is there chair and they see their name each time they want to sit on it. I believe that it is very important for children to associate the letters in the word with the actual object. Such as associating the letters S.I.N.K with the actual sink.

The processes by which the effects of stress and trauma experienced in one generation can be transmitted to the subsequent generations involves multiple factors and intersecting pathways (Bombay, Anisman, & Matheson, 2009, 2014; Bowers & Yehuda, 2016; Dekel & Goldblatt, 2008). It is known that adverse experiences in childhood and adulthood may influence the risk for various health and social outcomes in offspring of those who encountered the stressor or trauma directly (Bombay et al., 2009, 2014; Bowers & Yehuda, 2016; Dekel & Goldblatt, 2008). For example, the experiences of parents have been shown to be linked with the way their children appraise certain situations, including

Sometimes, they don’t even get to celebrate Birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or even Thanksgiving. This lack of love, community, and emotional support can cause a tremendous amount of psychiatric problems in a child. According to the researchers at Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA, “Toxic Childhood has been linked to elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and other physical conditions posing a significant health risk. The researchers suggest that toxic childhood stress alters neural responses to stress, boosting the emotional and physical arousal to threat and making it more difficult for that reaction to be shut off” (Bergland). This suggests just how dangerous it can be to for a child to have to go through their life without a family, which is why adopting a child is such a crucial ordeal for a child’s well being.

Anda, R.F., Felitti, V.J., Bremner, J.D., Walker, J.D., Whitfield, C., Perry, B.D., Dube, S.R. & Giles, W.H. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood: A convergence of evidence from neurobiology and epidemiology. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 256: 174-186.

Prenatal exposure to stress impairs biopsychosocial functioning of the infant with possible lifelong effects. During periods of maternal stress exposure, hormones pass through the placenta and fetal stress hormones mirror those hormones of the mother (Parke & Gauvain, 2009). These hormones can negatively impact the neurodevelopment of the fetus and lead to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and language delays (Talge, Neal & Glover, 2007). Exposure to stress hormones can also lead to difficult temperament and decreased stress responsiveness (Parke & Gauvain, 2009). Difficult babies often receive less contact from caregivers, and this lack of contact can hinder brain development in both emotional

I thought it was very interesting to read about the different theories and perspectives that are discussed in chapter two. It is important to look back on the roots of early childhood, but it is more important that we build upon those roots to adhere to the needs of children in this day and age. The book gave an example of how some child care traditions would seem abusive or strange to modern families today. This supports the fact that early childhood education is always developing and changing over time. As I continued to read the chapter, I was very unfamiliar with the different philosophies of guidance such as the maturationists and the constructivists. It is interesting to observe the different perspectives and ideals people have on early

There is a wide range of the mental health outcomes that stem from these childhood adverse experiences. Some of these disorders

In this essay, I will discuss my experience during middle and late childhood. I will address three stages which are the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development. The physical development consists of body and brain growth, health issues, and motor skills. The cognitive development consists of language, memory, and attention. Socioemotional development is based on relationship, employment, and personality.