There are several stressors that affects the development of a child. The one that is somewhat overlooked to me is the effects of war on a child's development. I can remember when my cousin, Antonio, father and his Army Reserve Unit had to go to Iraq to serve in the war. He was devastated. He and his father spent a lot of quality time together and he was really dependent on his father. He was very attached to his father. Because his father's unit had to go to Iraq his attachment with his father was interrupted. I had so much empathy for my cousin. I could really feel his pain.
At the time I did not know that all of my kind acts to Antonio was important. But since I have been enrolled in Walden University I have learned that the acts of kindness that I showed is called prosocial behavior. (Berger, 2012). I can remember when Antonio would cry his eyes out. He would not eat his lunch and a lot of times he ended up going to sleep in class because he was not able to rest during the night. Antonio often complained of headaches and stomachaches. I often tried to assure him that his father would be okay but he still reminded me that he was lost and alone without his father. I encouraged him to write his father a letter and this was the only time that he was his normal self.
My mother finally told Antonio's mother that she may need to seek some counseling for him. She was very concerned because this was causing him to fall behind in school and she felt like his mental health status could be jeopardized from this situation as well. After seeking counseling Antonio's mother found out that he was suffering from anxiety and panic attacks because he was afraid that his father would not come back from the war. I am so glad that my mother convinced her to seek help from a counselor. Antonio's father did return home after two years and he has since then been a normal child.
As I reflected on Antonio's experience I can't help but to choose the region of Afghanistan to focus on for the effects of war on children. In Afghanistan (PTSD) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is really high because of family violence. This is due to high levels of stress stemming from the war. There are several common side affects of ( PTSD) which include depression, poor appetite, guilt, anxiety, poor interactions, aggressive outbursts, fear of darkness, and difficulty concentrating. There are several other issues that stem from war. Lack of food and displacement are some of the issues. Flashbacks, nightmares, and mental disorders are also issues.
There are several groups available that can help to minimize harm to children.
- Save the Children is a internationally active Non-Governmental Organization that enforces the children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in mostly developing countries. It improves the lives of children through better education, health care, as well as providing emergency aid in natural disasters, war, and other conflicts.
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the most widely ratified human rights treaty and obliges states to take positive measures to ensure the protection of children's rights both in peace and in war.
War has a tremendous affect on the biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development of children. It can cause the children to change their attitudes toward society, change their relationships with others, and it can also change their outlook on life.
References
Berger, K. S. (2012) The developing person through childhood (6th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers
http://twebster@savechildren.org
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