Social and Emotional Development of Low Income Children
Social and Emotional Development of Low Income Children Growing up within a family living with a low socioeconomic status can have a detrimental effect on a child’s social and emotional development. Some factors that may be affected by a low economic status are weakened family and peer relations, lowered self-esteem, the tendency for aggression, as well as health problems. Not necessarily though does this always have a detrimental effect on children; it may serve constructively as well.
A family that deals with hardships constantly when it comes to finances may have a variety of effects on a child’s development. There tends to be a chain of events that may occur, in this type of situation. Parents that experience the pressure from unstable employment, and possibly many debts, may feel that they cannot cope with their financial problems. They then may have the tendency to become moody or depressed, which in turn may cause marital conflict. This marital conflict may disrupt the parent’s ability to be a supporting, involved and nurturing parent. This, according to Davies & Cummings (1998), may contribute to child and adolescent problems, such as low self-esteem, poor school performance, poor peer relations, and behaviour problems such as depression, hostility and anti-social conduct.
Trust versus Mistrust
According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development is when a child develops a sense of trust or mistrust depending on the regularity of care, love and affection they receive from their primary caregiver. Therefore, when children feel like they are not being supported and nurtured by their caregivers, they may question the trust that they should have in them, as well as other adults. They may also question why their parents are not able to supply them with the things that they need to get by in life, such as clothing or a safe home, or things others may take for granted such as hydro, water and heat. This again, can question that trust
A family that deals with hardships constantly when it comes to finances may have a variety of effects on a child’s development. There tends to be a chain of events that may occur, in this type of situation. Parents that experience the pressure from unstable employment, and possibly many debts, may feel that they cannot cope with their financial problems. They then may have the tendency to become moody or depressed, which in turn may cause marital conflict. This marital conflict may disrupt the parent’s ability to be a supporting, involved and nurturing parent. This, according to Davies & Cummings (1998), may contribute to child and adolescent problems, such as low self-esteem, poor school performance, poor peer relations, and behaviour problems such as depression, hostility and anti-social conduct.
Trust versus Mistrust
According to Erikson, the first stage of psychosocial development is when a child develops a sense of trust or mistrust depending on the regularity of care, love and affection they receive from their primary caregiver. Therefore, when children feel like they are not being supported and nurtured by their caregivers, they may question the trust that they should have in them, as well as other adults. They may also question why their parents are not able to supply them with the things that they need to get by in life, such as clothing or a safe home, or things others may take for granted such as hydro, water and heat. This again, can question that trust
References: Boyd, D., Bee, H. (2012). Poverty and children’s health. The Developing Child: Edition 13, pp 107-108 Boyd, D., Bee, H. (2012). Socioeconomic status and development. The Developing Child: Edition 13, pp 360-364 Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). The psychodynamic perspective. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp5-7 Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). Threats to children’s development. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp 226-232 Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). Nutrition. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp 315-319. Pearson Canada Inc.: Toronto, Ontario Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). Consequences of low self-esteem. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp 378-379 Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). Alcohol and drug use. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp 488-490 Kail, R., Zolner, T. (2012). Depression. Children: A Chronological Approach, pp 490-493.