Stages of Childhood

CHILD DEVELOPMENT
AND
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Venerable Dr I. U. Ibeme

Website: www.geocities.com/ifeogo

Stages of Childhood

•Neonates: First Month of life

•Infants: First year of life

•Early Childhood: 1 – 5 years of age

•Late Childhood: 5 – 11 years of age

•Early Adolescence: 11 – 14 years

•Late Adolescence: 14 – 19 years

(Young Adults: 19 – 24 years)

What is Health?

•"a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". (WHO 1948)

•Wellbeing – Not merely zero-disease.

•Wellbeing – Subjective fitness/happiness.

•Complete – Highest attainable standard.

•Multi-factorial – Physical, Mental, Social.

•Agnostic – The Spiritual is beyond WHO.

The Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) 2000-2015

•Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

•Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

•Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

•Goal 4: Reduce child mortality

•Goal 5: Improve maternal health

•Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

•Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

•Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Aspects of Child Development

•Body, Knowledge, Behaviour, Skill.

(Fitness, Acumen, Attitude, Agility)

•Physical Growth & Health.

•Psychological Development:

–Cognitive & Intellectual)

–Socio-emotional & Temperament

–(Language & Communication)

–Psychomotor Skills (Fine & Gross

Child Development 5-11yrs

•Emotional/Social Changes

–• More independence from parents and family.

–• Stronger sense of right and wrong.

–• Beginning awareness of the future.

–• Growing understanding about one’s place in the world.

–• More attention to friendships and teamwork.

–• Growing desire to be liked and accepted by friends.

Child Development 5-11yrs

•Mental/Cognitive Changes

–• Rapid development of mental skills.

–• Mentally ready for formal school education.

–• Greater ability to describe experiences and talk about thoughts and feelings.

–• Less focus on one’s self and more concern for others.

Child Development 11-14yrs

Emotional/Social Changes

•More concern about body image, looks, and clothes.

•Focus on self, going back and forth between high expectations and lack of confidence.

•Moodiness

•More interest in and influence by peer group.

•Less affection shown toward parents.

•Anxiety from more challenging school work.

•Eating problems sometimes start at this age.

Child Development 11-14yrs

Mental/Cognitive Changes

•More ability for complex thought.

•Better able to express feelings through talking.

•A stronger sense of right and wrong.

•Many teens sometimes feel sad or depressed. Depression can lead to poor grades at school, alcohol or drug use, sexual indulgence, and other problems.

Puberty Changes 11-14yrs

•Body Size

•Hormones

•Body Shape: Muscles/Curves

•Body Hair (Armpit, Pubis, Face)

•Oily Skin and Breast Changes

•Deep Voice and Big Bosoms

•Emissions and Menstruation

Developmental Milestones

Early adolescence is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes.

Hormones change as puberty begins.

• Boys grow facial and pubic hair and their voices deepen.

• Girls grow pubic hair and breasts, and start menstruating.

• They might be worried about these changes and how they are looked at by others.

• This will also be a time when your teenager might face peer pressure to use alcohol, tobacco products, and drugs, and to indulge in sex.

• Other challenges can be eating disorders, depression, and family problems.

Healthy Parenting – Provide

•Healthy Parenting – Trust, Protection, Provision, Exemplary Moral/Spiritual Guidance, Informal and Formal Education, Good Healthcare.

•Immunization – Ensure regular immunization has been completed against Tuberculosis (BCG), Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping cough), Tetanus, Measles.

•Also vaccinate against Meningitis, Typhoid, Mumps, Rubella, Hepatitis, Yellow fever, Pneumonia & Use Mosquito nets

•Healthcare Provision – Provide safe and healthy environment for your child to grow up in.

•Ensure ready access to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Healthcare at Home and at School.

Healthy Parenting – Guide

•Sex Education – Sexuality, Promiscuity, Premarital Pregnancy, STDs, PIDs

•Health Education – Personal Hygiene, Malaria, Contagious Diseases (Mumps, RTIs, Worms, G.E. CSM) HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse, Diet, Safety.

•Guard against Risky (Unhealthy) Behaviour – Smoking & Drinking, Drug Abuse, Overeating, Sexual Promiscuity, Poor Hygiene, Injurious Exposure (Danger, Violence, Gangsterism, Fighting, Criminality)

“All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword” Matt 26:52

Positive Parenting – Protect

•• Protect your child properly in the car. All children younger than 12 years of age should ride in the back seat with a seatbelt properly fastened

•• Teach your child to watch traffic and how to be safe when walking to school, riding a bike, and playing outside.

•• Make sure your child understands water safety, and always supervise her when she’s swimming or playing near water.

Positive Parenting – Protect

•• Supervise your child when he’s engaged in risky activities, such as climbing.

•• Talk with your child about how to ask for help when she needs it.

•• Keep potentially harmful household products, tools, equipment, and firearms out of your child’s reach

•Many children get home from school before their parents get home from work. It is important to have clear rules and plans for your child when she is home alone

Positive Parenting – Care

•• Show affection for your child. Recognize her accomplishments.

•• Help your child develop a sense of responsibility—ask him to help with household tasks, such as setting the table, clean-ups.

•• Talk with your child about school, friends, and things she looks forward to in the future.

•• Talk with your child about respecting others. Encourage him to help people in need.

•• Help your child set her own achievable goals—she’ll learn to take pride in herself and rely less on approval or reward from others.

•• Make clear rules and stick to them, such as what or how long your child can watch TV or when he has to go to bed. Be clear about what behavior is okay and what is not okay.

Positive Parenting – Care

•• Help your child learn patience by letting others go first or by finishing a task before going out to play. Encourage him to think about possible consequences before acting.

•• Do fun things together as a family, such as playing games, reading, and going to events in your community.

•• Get involved with your child’s school. Meet the teachers and staff to understand the learning goals and how you and the school can work together to help your child do well.

•• Continue reading to your child. As your child learns to read, take turns reading to each other.

•• Use discipline to guide and protect your child, rather than punishment to make her feel badly about herself.

•• Support your child in taking on new challenges. Encourage him to solve problems, such as a disagreement with another child, on his own.

Positive Parenting - Safety

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 12 to 19 year olds. Injuries from sports and other activities are also common.

•Make sure your teenager knows about the importance of wearing seatbelts.

•Encourage your teenager to wear a helmet when riding a bike, motorcycle, or all-terrain vehicle.

•Talk with your teenager about the dangers of drugs, drinking, smoking, and risky sexual activity. Listen to and answer questions honestly and directly.

•Talk about the importance of having good friends who are interested in positive activities. Encourage him to avoid peers who pressure him to make unhealthy choices.

•Know where your teenager is and whether an adult is present. Make plans with her for when she will call you, where you can find her, and what time you expect her home.

•Set clear rules for your teenager when he is home alone. Talk about such issues as having friends at the house; how to handle unsafe situations (emergencies, fire, drugs, sex, internet.) and homework or household tasks to complete.

Positive Parenting - Trust

Trust is important for teenagers. Even as she develops independence, she will need to know she has your support. At the same time, she will need you to respect her needs for privacy.

•Honest and direct talk about sensitive subjects such as drugs, drinking, smoking, sex and religion.

•Encourage exercise and keep active: team or individual sport, household tasks such as mowing the lawn, house cleaning, cooking or washing the car.

•Eating meals together: promotes healthy choice of foods and weight, and gives your family time to talk to each other.

•Meet and get to know your teenager’s friends.

•Show an interest in your teenager’s school life.

•Help your teenager make healthy choices while encouraging him to make his own decisions and develop solutions to problems or conflicts.

•Listen to and Respect your teenager’s opinions and take into account her thoughts and feelings.

•Compliment your teenager and celebrate her efforts and accomplishments.

May God

be with

You All

I’m

Venerable Dr I. U. Ibeme

Website: www.geocities.com/ifeogo

Last updated: November 15, 2007

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