Physical changes that occur during adolescence are rapid in both height and weight, and even in their brain activity. Chapter 8 talks about the physical and psychosocial development that occurs at the age of 12 and 20. Identity formation during this stage according to Erickson's theory strives to discover what makes them special and different. "The main task is to achieve a state of identity,something to which one strives,rather than a final, definitive identity."(Life Smart p.134). This is the period when teens identify their strength and weakness and determine the roles they can best play in their future. For this reason parent and care giver have a lot to do in giving support to the teens and helping them achieve their best. As a mother of three adult now, I remember what really help me through this stage in my children's life is listening to them and respecting their opinion and most importantly praying with, and for them. I made it a point of duty while my children was in high school to pray with each one of them before leaving home for school. Letting teens knows that we are there for them will not allows their peers to take control of their life.
Puberty which is the periods of hormone changes whereby sex hormones increases. In this stage adolescence develop their sexual, gender and ethnic identities. They become more importantly to their peers, a periods where they tends to face the treats of their peers and surroundings that can damage their well-being. Especially in the western world where everything is at the teens finger tips and they are expose to illegal drugs, cigarette smoking and sexually transmitted disease. The book talks about the role that family plays in the life of the teens, because the teens go through a lot of body image disturbance and pressure from peers. Support from parents especially mother is very crucial otherwise teens will not be able to adjust to all the changes. "while adolescents' relationship with both parents remain significant, mothers are generally perceived as more supportive than fathers. "(Life Smart p.195) Because of this critical periods parents should be aware and play an important role in their teens life. Teenagers need their parent support so they can achieve their best. Growing up in Nigeria, I remember how I was so close to my mother in some instances as in getting all my needs met but very distant in discussing some personal problems with her due to cultural reasons so I determined to be close to my children and allow them to freely discuss their struggle with me either academically or socially and they always have my acceptance.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Week four- Early and Middle childhood
Chapter six, talks about growth in early childhood. Growth occurs gradually at a slow process but very complex. During the years 2-6, children grow about 12 inches and continue to gain weight at the rate of about 5 pounds a year. Boys and girls show about the same rate of growth during these years, and although there is a predictable pattern for growth in most parts of the body. growth varies from child to child.(P130). I learned about the changes that occurs during the stage of child development,the physical development and brain development stood out and very interesting, how children compare themselves to others and it helps them to construct new tasks. I have three children and reading this chapters and thinking back, all I could say is that I wish I had knowledge in child development prior to having my children. I will recommend to my children that they take a crash course in child development. Chapter seven talks about how children learn, cognitive, language, social, physical skills and they learn from what they see not what we want them to learn.
Early childhood education is another topic that I can relate to in reading chapter six, I remember my first daughter was home with me and my mother till she was one year old. When my mother went back to Nigeria we had to take her to babysitter for couple of hours a day. I remember how she cries a whole whenever her father had to drop her off. This went on for a another year until I decided to stay home and take care of her. Then one of my friend told be about the Montessori schools but unfortunately I could not afford it. Eventually I learned about the head start school whereby monthly payment is determined by parents income. "Head Start as a national program to increase school readiness among children by providing educational, health, nutrition, social, and other services to low-income children and their families". My experience at the center is a negative one because children are not educated whatsoever. so I complain that Rosemary can't read and the response from the director is that "children are here to associate with their peers, we will not stop them from what they already known."
Another interesting readings was on the different parenting style, according to the definition on (p.142) I am an authoritarian parent and culture has a lot with it. I raise my children the way I was raised. This has both negative and positive effects on the girls. Now that they are grown for example they tried to do some of the things they will not do when they are younger like talking back to me in other to make a point. I find it difficult to answer the question on punishment- "Do you think that corporal punishment is valuable way to handle a child who misbehaves? Would yo spank you child?. One thing I learned from my mother that really help is the idea of talking to my children before and after using punishment.
Early childhood education is another topic that I can relate to in reading chapter six, I remember my first daughter was home with me and my mother till she was one year old. When my mother went back to Nigeria we had to take her to babysitter for couple of hours a day. I remember how she cries a whole whenever her father had to drop her off. This went on for a another year until I decided to stay home and take care of her. Then one of my friend told be about the Montessori schools but unfortunately I could not afford it. Eventually I learned about the head start school whereby monthly payment is determined by parents income. "Head Start as a national program to increase school readiness among children by providing educational, health, nutrition, social, and other services to low-income children and their families". My experience at the center is a negative one because children are not educated whatsoever. so I complain that Rosemary can't read and the response from the director is that "children are here to associate with their peers, we will not stop them from what they already known."
Another interesting readings was on the different parenting style, according to the definition on (p.142) I am an authoritarian parent and culture has a lot with it. I raise my children the way I was raised. This has both negative and positive effects on the girls. Now that they are grown for example they tried to do some of the things they will not do when they are younger like talking back to me in other to make a point. I find it difficult to answer the question on punishment- "Do you think that corporal punishment is valuable way to handle a child who misbehaves? Would yo spank you child?. One thing I learned from my mother that really help is the idea of talking to my children before and after using punishment.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Week 3-The biological and psychological basis of development- Heredity at work
The next three chapters for this session enlightened us on how human being's journey to life begins with fertilized egg or zygote. "From our microscopic beginnings we travel along a developmental path-one that is rooted in biology, but affected by psychological and social forces."(P.54). Chromosomes, DNA, and Genes are the three structures in the cell nucleus that work together to coordinate our biological makeup. "Chromosomes are structures in the cell nucleus that are composed of DNA and proteins. Every human cell(excluding egg or sperm cells) has 22 matching chromosome pair, plus a 23rd pair of sex chromosomes that determine whether a person is male or female.(P. 54). This chapter reminds me of my life during the child bearing of my girls. When my oldest daughter was born, my ex-husband was happy, then came the second and she was a girl too. he became worried and turned to culture. "enough of girls". This was so sad because it reminds me of my maternal grandparents when my grandmother did not have a male child after the fifth child, my maternal grandfather's family arranged another wife for him. Unfortunately the woman had three boys and they all died at a young age and the only surviving one is a girl. This kind of thinking has caused many problems for many African people. One would think that in the twenty-first century there should be an adequate knowledge for all men to know that they produce XY chromosomes and female produces XX chromosomes and whatever the male release to the female would determine the sex of the baby. My ex-husband did not get this and it was the main reason why our marriage ended after my third child was a girl. I'm very happy with my girls and they are the source of my joy.
"Every pair of genes ultimately determines the specific traits we inherit, from hair and eye color skin shade, the tendency toward baldness, blood type, and so on (P.55). Heredity is the passing on of genetic traits from parents to offspring, sometimes people's actions and ways of life can be traced down to great-great grandparents. My paternal uncle and aunties believed I am their mother. They always tell me how I look, and act so much like her which means we share the same phenotype- " A person's characteristics of traits." We can also inherit some abnormalities which can affects the entire genetic process.
"Every pair of genes ultimately determines the specific traits we inherit, from hair and eye color skin shade, the tendency toward baldness, blood type, and so on (P.55). Heredity is the passing on of genetic traits from parents to offspring, sometimes people's actions and ways of life can be traced down to great-great grandparents. My paternal uncle and aunties believed I am their mother. They always tell me how I look, and act so much like her which means we share the same phenotype- " A person's characteristics of traits." We can also inherit some abnormalities which can affects the entire genetic process.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Week 2- Theories of Development:-Using the the unique theories of development in setting priorities
Many theories was discussed in the book (life Smart) in such a way that there was a clear distinct approach to understanding human development. Erickson's psychosocial theory states there are certain relationships that allow us go through life and progress through stages of development. In every stage there is a crisis that must be resolved. According to Erickson, human life progress through a series of eight stages. I can relate to the second stage autonomy vs shame and doubts when children learns how to control their body functions whereby toilet training play a major role which leads to feelings of control and sense of independence, growing up in Africa, during my generation there is no such thing as toilet training and anyone with bed wetting problem are dealt with severely and many children experience shame.
There are some theories that do not fall into one of the broader theoretical categories but, rather, stand alone as influential in the field. "Evolutionary development psychology is an explanation of development that assumes our physiological and psychological systems resulted from evolution by selection" "Evolutionary developmental psychology can be defined as the use of principles of Darwinian evolution, particularly natural selection, to explain human development. it involves the physiologic." I believe all human being has some knowledge in our brain that allow us adapt to situation. This usually happens through culture and values of our ancestors.
Another interesting topic to me is the "Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs(1987),while not a distinctly developmental theory, emphasizes the importance of growing and developing as a person to achieve one's potential."(P.44).
As a nurse, I prioritize patent's multiple problems by using a framework that nurses frequently use when dealing with patent's problems which is the hierarchy of human needs developed by Maslow. He proposed five levels needs that motivate human behavior and divided them as follows;The physiologic needs, Safety and security needs, Love and belongings needs, Esteem and self actualization needs, Self-actualization needs.
There are some theories that do not fall into one of the broader theoretical categories but, rather, stand alone as influential in the field. "Evolutionary development psychology is an explanation of development that assumes our physiological and psychological systems resulted from evolution by selection" "Evolutionary developmental psychology can be defined as the use of principles of Darwinian evolution, particularly natural selection, to explain human development. it involves the physiologic." I believe all human being has some knowledge in our brain that allow us adapt to situation. This usually happens through culture and values of our ancestors.
Another interesting topic to me is the "Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs(1987),while not a distinctly developmental theory, emphasizes the importance of growing and developing as a person to achieve one's potential."(P.44).
As a nurse, I prioritize patent's multiple problems by using a framework that nurses frequently use when dealing with patent's problems which is the hierarchy of human needs developed by Maslow. He proposed five levels needs that motivate human behavior and divided them as follows;The physiologic needs, Safety and security needs, Love and belongings needs, Esteem and self actualization needs, Self-actualization needs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)