Factors That Impact On The Lives Of Children And Young People

1. – Describe how social, economical and cultural factors can impact on the outcomes and life chances of children and young people.

The Every Child Matters framework (2003) was introduced as a direct result of a review of services offered to Children and Young People and identifies some of the ways in which practitioners can aid the Children and Young People in their care to make positive and personal choices and experiences that will have a positive impact on their lives. Positive outcomes for Children and Young People include:

D1/D2/A1 For most people bereavement will be the most troubling experience they will ever face. Grief is what we feel when somebody that is close to us has died everyone experiences grief in different way there is no correct way for someone to grief. For many children and young people the death of a parent or sibling is an experience they are faced with early in life. Children and young people need to be given the opportunity to grieve ignoring the child’s grief is not protective and can be damaging. Children and young people regardless of their age need to be encouraged to talk about how they are feeling and supported to understand their emotions. During their development children do not understand that death in irreversible this can be shown as children do not understand the term death

In America’s current culture death is a taboo subject that many individuals feel awkward talking about. Most individuals feel uncomfortable simply after hearing the word. After facing a death, the large majority of people decide to isolate themselves dealing with their grief alone. Bereavement is a complex feeling of emotions that many people do not know how to face on their own. Each individual goes through the bereavement process differently. Society usually focuses on adult grief, but lack to give attention towards children in these situations. Most people think that children are too young and naïve to feel and understand these emotions about grief. However, this is not the case children actually have complex emotions just like adults. Also children are very curious about death and need attention from adult to gain a full

1.1 Describe the social, economic and cultural factors that will impact on the lives of children and young people.

Poverty is “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor” (Dictionary.com, 2017). Based off this definition poverty is a condition that can cause a cascade of cause and effect actions that is detrimental to families and individuals both physically and mentally. Haan, Kaplan, & Camacho (2017) completed a study on the correlation between social and economic status and health in adults in Oakland, CA. They found that the lower the socioeconomic class the higher incidents of diseases and deaths related to chronic diseases (p.1161-1162). Just being without money or little money was not the only indication of health indication, a person living in an area with higher poverty issues

Child poverty is defined as any group of people, or individuals, who are unable, through lack of money, to adequately feed themselves. They may not be able to afford suitable clothing or provide themselves with suitable heated accommodation. Child poverty can cause serious problems for children. For those in poverty it means being cold, hungry and often not being able to join activities with friends or activities that cost money, such as bowling, going to the cinema, swimming or other interests and pursuits. In addition, 60% of families on the lower incomes cannot afford to take their children on holiday for one week a year. (Child Poverty Action Group online 2015).

Poverty is a chronic issue not just within the United States but throughout the whole world, but one thing that people tend to overlook is the effect that poverty has on childhood. Many children grow up in poverty and the effects can last for a life time. For many of these kids who grow up in these conditions the effects include poor health, a high risk for teen pregnancy, and the lack of an education.

While the bereavement process may be a universal chapter of life, the experience itself is conclusively subjective. Specifically for younger individuals, bereavement is a very complex encounter because developmental factors must be considered. The loss of an individual in a child’s life is heavily influenced by the time in which it occurs because coping mechanisms may or may not be developed. For example, if a child does not understand the context of death, they most likely will not have adequate coping skills to process this life-changing experience. Children and adolescents who are facing bereavement may face developmental relapse as well as changes in social, behavioral,

While the bereavement process may be a universal chapter of life, the experience itself is conclusively subjective. Specifically for younger individuals, bereavement is a very complex encounter because developmental factors must be considered. The loss of an individual in a child’s life is heavily influenced on the time in which it occurs because coping mechanisms may or may not be developed. For example, if a child does not understand the context of death, they most likely will not have adequate coping skills to process this life-changing experience. Children and adolescents who are facing bereavement may face developmental relapse as well as changes in social, behavioral, emotional, and physiological domains (Osterweis, 1984).

Grief is more than emotions it’s a feeling of loss and have physical components as well. These feelings may be frightening to a grieving child.

While grief is usually associated with a death, children can grieve over other things as well. Some children grieve over the loss of a pet, separation from a parent, loss of a childhood friend etc. How old a child is at the time of loss certainly affects the child's perception of the event. Although babies are unable to express themselves verbally, they will certainly exhibit reactions to loss. They may seem more fussy, inconsolable, or have changes in their eating and sleeping patterns. Very young children, ages 2 to 4, are egocentric: they think the world revolves around them, and their concept of death is limited. They may think that death is reversible, and their main reactions to death may be that their daily routine and care are altered.

For the purpose of this assignment I shall be discussing what child poverty is, the factors of child poverty in the United Kingdom and how child poverty will be tackled. In the UK families have a prime responsibility to nurture and care for their children through various development stages (UNICEF 2012 ). Child poverty can happen from the break up of families, being in debt, poor education or unfortunately an orphan or born in to the situation (BBC, 2012). All children have the right to embark on the best possible start to life, within a secure and happy environment with support into adulthood and the opportunity for potential.

Across the world poverty is evident within many countries and can be seen in many different ways. Poverty is not only a growing distress but in many cases can become a never-ending cycle. Poverty is not only described as how wealthy you are, it also includes important factors of socializing and living a normal life. Currently, people work harder than ever to keep up with a constantly changing unemployment rate and the stress of taking care of their families. Unfortunately, children who grow up in a poverty stricken environment are hurt the most. Poverty effects all kinds of children in many difficult ways, implementing factors such as health, environments, safety, and their mental and physical development.

Death is something that is difficult to deal with; even more so as a child. Therefore, children most of the time do not understand death and are confused about reasoning behind the loss. At this stage in a child’s life they do not have the tools that are needed to deal with this kind emotional turmoil. Bereavement of a parent can traumatize a child so badly that it can affect him or her later in adulthood. Under those circumstances psychological treatment should be obtained for the child after bereavement has taken place.