Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

As a young child, life was nothing but stressful for me and my six brothers and sisters.  My mother was a victim of a vicious cycle of alcohol abuse and violence, stemming from her parents.  My mother had seven children at the age of twenty-one by three different fathers who were only fathers in the sense of the word.  She did not know how to take care of us.  As a young child between the ages of three to nine years-old I only remember being cold, afraid, homeless, and hungry.  I was a failure to strive child who developed slowly.  The year that the state took us from our mother and placed us in foster care, I went to three different schools in one year.  I would sneak out of the school building with a group of neighborhood kids and walk to the Lincoln Park Zoo/Beach (Chicago) where we would eat half-eaten food out of the garbage cans; I was seven years old.  School was sad for me, I did poorly in every subject and had profound behavior problems; I did not realize I could read until I was blessed to be placed in a positive- loving foster care home; which saved my life.  This is why I chose to write about the hunger.

Child Hunger in Asia

“One third of families in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are regularly going to bed hungry due to soaring food prices in a region which accounts for half the world's underweight children”.  “Half of the children in India, Asia's third largest economy, are stunted because of hunger.  Child malnutrition is an underlying cause of death for 2.6 million children yearly- with most of them dying from preventable illnesses like diarrhea due to weak immune systems”. (Bhalla, 2012)

“Those who to survive, grow up without enough energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. This means children's brains and bodies do not develop properly and they become stunted and unable to function physically, academically or socially”.

“South Asia, which also includes Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal, is locked into a vicious cycle of stunting that passes from generation to generation, the report says. A quarter of children in this region are born with low birth weights of less than 2.5 kg - which is a powerful predictor of stunting - compared to 12 percent in sub-Saharan Africa”. (Bhalla, 2012)

Bhalla, N. (2012, February 19). A Shocking Number of Asiian Children go to Bed Hungry. Retrieved from Reuter: http: in.reuters.com/article/1012/02/19/hunger-sasia

Consequences of Hunger on a Child's Development

When I think about my childhood all I can remember is being hungry all of the time. What I remember most is constantly thinking about the one sandwich that was never wrapped in a brown paper. How I would bite and pinch off it until it was all gone before lunch time. I believe because of the stress of being hungry most of the time during my early childhood years; is why I did so poorly in school and never wanting to participate in any activities.



Japan's tsunami Child Survivors

It is all part of an effort to get the children back into some sort of routine and to keep an eye on their emotional wellbeing. To help counter this a play date for children has been organised in a classroom in the devastated city of Minamisanriku.
Just like adults, these children can still suffer the after-effects of the tsunami long after the waves have retreated.For the children, the tsunami nature disaster did not just smash their homes and sweep away their relatives, it also etched itself on the childrens psyche so having some fun with friends is the best therapy they can get.

Giving Birth In The Netherlands

I choose to write about giving birth in the Netherlands.  Childbirth in the Netherland is not treated as a medical condition and pregnant women are not treated as patients.  As a result, "pregnant women are not given pain relief. The rate of epidural use in the Netherlands is low and there is an absence of anesthetists available out of ‘normal" hours (Expatica, 2012).  Women are encouraged to give birth at home. 

The first priority is to find a midwife.  The role of the doctor or gynecologist in a normal pregnancy in The Netherlands is minor and in most cases not involved at all.  This is slightly different to the UK, and a complete contrast to the United States. 


In the Netherland, the first appointment will be any time from week six of the pregnancy, but more usually around ten weeks. This initial contact is the time to let the midwife know how you visualize the labor and birth process, It would have been good for me to have a midwife to talk to during my pregnancy with my second child, may I would have made different choice during my pregnancy. In the Netherland, an expectant mother can always change her midwife during their pregnancy if they do not click, or that their birth plans are disrespected. Unlike the United States, one cannot change doctors at anytime during the pregnancy.  Women in the Netherlands have choices as to where they would like to deliver their baby.

  The Dutch are big believers in home births so one must make it clear if they want a hospital birth and pain relief.  With 30 percent of all births taking place at home, The Netherlands have the highest rate of home births in the world.  In Britain home births account for 2 percent of total births, in Belgium this figure is closer to 1 percent.  Similarly, 99 percent of births in the United States take place in a hospital environment.


Giving birth at home is something that I cannot even phantom, let alone no pain medication.  I have a low tolerant for pain.  Furthermore, I need a lot of qualified doctors and nurse available to help if complication would arise.



Mulligan, A. V. (2000, april 21). Maternity Matters: What to expect in The Netherland. Retrieved January 7, 2012, from Expatica.com