Child Development Not Following Expected Pattern
- Understand how to monitor children and young people’s development and interventions that should take place if this is not following the expected pattern
- Explain the reasons why children and young people’s development may not follow the expected pattern
There are many reasons and factors why a child is not following the expected pattern of development. For example, the child may be emotionally unsettled due to a number of reasons. Family life plays a significant part in a child’s development.
If for instance, the child is living with parents who constantly argue and fight this will have an effect on the child and cause stress. Also if the child is from a one-parent family there may be difficulties as a parent trying to juggle everything on their own may not have as much time to spend nurturing and boosting a child’s development. The child may be at a disadvantage environmentally due to poor housing or area in which they live. If a house is poorly heated the child may experience bad health due to dampness. Or the child may be living in cramp conditions and unable to play and explore so easily.
Not so well off families may be living in poorer areas with little access to amenities which can cause stress to parents which will affect the child’s development. Some children have a poor diet and this can affect their growth and thus affect the physical side of development. There have been many studies on diet and its effects and results have shown that a child who has a nutritious and healthy diet achieves more in life. It is difficult for a family on a low income to promote a healthy diet for their child and thus can result in poorer health and physical issues.
Also some children’s genetic code may affect the pattern in which they develop. This could mean that they are slower to develop but no reason is found. There are also cultural issues that may affect a child’s development. Families differ from one to another and the way a child is brought up will also differ from one to another. What one family may deem to be ok another would disagree. For example one family may allow their child more freedom and let them play outside in the street whereas another would keep the child in the confines of the garden only.
This is also true in the case of an older child, for instance, a teenager. One may be allowed the independence and freedom of coming in late and another is not. All these decisions made by parents and carers can affect their child’s development. A child may be prevented from developing by a disability. This may also affect the child in several areas of development. A child with a physical disability may not have much movement and will be unable to join in with outdoor games and sports.
However with the right support and equipment the child will be able to participate so early intervention is vital for the child’s physical and emotional wellbeing. 2 There are many reasons why a child may have learning difficulties. The child may have had difficulties at birth or the problems may be genetic. Having a learning difficulty will affect development in a child. The child may need one to one help with reading, writing and arithmetic and support with other activities. Such children may find it hard to interact with other children and may also develop low self-esteem as they struggle academically.
The level of a child’s communication skills can have an effect on most areas of development. If a child is struggling with communication and language they may get upset easily and start behaving negatively. This will cause the child to get frustrated and unable to complete tasks set for them. Lack of concentration in certain activities may be a problem too leaving the child unable to take in the information needed to finish the school work. For the child to read and write good communication skills are also needed.
