 |
Summary of Concerns and Issues of Significance Raised About Children Ages 5-13 and Their Families Related Research and Resources
***This is not an exhaustive list***
Connections
Connections for children within and outside their families, including relationships with caring adults, are critically important. Out-of-school programs may facilitate positive contacts with non-familial adults. Intergenerational relationships are another valuable resource to achieve goals and progress for children. Establishing healthy peer relationships are also important because commonalities and gaps in this age period can influence children to align themselves socially in unhealthy or even exclusionary ways.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
Parenting
Parents need support in balancing multiple demands
(work, family, child care, extra-curricular activities);
this support should come in the form of education, emotional
and social support. Family friendly workplaces are necessary
to provide some of this support. Attention to and recognition
of disabilities is important for parents to feel supported
in their efforts to raise their children.
The resource gap exacerbates many problems parents may face; the financial stress of raising children can be overwhelming. Time is an economic issue for those with few resources and a social issue for middle and upper class families. Most parents want to know how to parent well but this information may not be easily accessible to everyone. Feelings of isolation for both children and families can be troublesome; isolation and over-scheduling are paradoxical for both as well.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
Faith/Spirituality
Nurturing the faith and the spiritual development
of a child is an important piece of holistic development.
Places of worship are a great connecting point to the
community and an avenue to reach families. Faith communities
may also provide a vital bridge to the community for
children with disabilities. And, faith-based programs
are currently perceived to have good funding potential
(from outside/government sources). But the potential
also exists for negative influence such as intolerant
behaviors and values. Still, children's involvement
in faith-based programs provides the possibility for
connecting them with caring adults and exposing them
to other age groups and types of people.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
Media
The potential for positive use of popular media and partnerships should be recognized, despite widespread impressions of its negative impact on children. Using a variety of media for educational purposes is a resource just beginning to be tapped into both in traditional education systems as well as in mainstream society.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
Schools
Although perhaps too much is expected from schools, they cannot do it all, especially while facing budget cuts. Schools may be able to meet a wider range of needs and meet them more effectively through more deliberate connections and partnerships with other key players such as businesses, community agencies, libraries, etc.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
Health
Physical health, obesity in particular, is an issue that ties into several themes such as school, out-of-school time, the influence of media, and time spent using technology such as computers.
The early physical and social maturity of children is a concern as is the sexualization of this age group.
Mental health issues and services are critical issues
for children in this age group. In a similar fashion,
health issues related to disabilities are crucial to
address in this period of growth and development. Better
coordination, funding and improvement of services are
necessary for both.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
- ACE
- CATCH
- DARE Plus
- PATHWAYS
- Project Alert
- Project Northland I & II
Community
The child's community can play a key role in addressing
issues resulting from gaps and disparities; the community
philosophy around commonalities and gaps, abilities
and disabilities drives the behavior of the children.
Gaps and disparities can easily be exacerbated by out-of-school-time
opportunities, or the lack thereof. Children's anger
at social injustice can develop into lifelong problems.
Libraries are an important player, as a meeting place, a caretaker in some cases, and a critical part of communities.
There is a call for a public agenda, a vision, and leadership to address the issues facing children and their families. Our society needs to be more engaged in the discourse and the solutions. Communication issues arise especially in regards to how issues are framed and approached to elicit broad, public support.
Related Research:
Related Resources:
| |
