Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Kids and reading to them Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Kids and reading to them - Essay Example reading with the kids makes them feel on top of their game. By this, one would mean the consummate ease with which they transport to themselves an understanding of how lifes nuances would be, and how they would be able to tackle the intricacies of the clippings that are coming up for them. Reading with the kids is the compulsion of the hour beca social function it dictates them where they have to invoke and develop, and how they shall see the changing realms of life whilst dealing with them on a consistent basis. What is even more interesting is the fact that the children will have that they are universe given the attention that they direly require inside their midst, as this is a fact that has to see the light of the day. This paper discusses how reading with the kids helps them to grow and develop, and be an important let on within this society. The reading element instills in the kids a sense of belongingness that they are bound to learn, analyze and hence understand how life shapes up, and how lifes contrastive turns are handled in the most apt manner. Reading with the kids allows them to feel special that they are being given the time and energies which shall bear rich fruit as far as their result and development measures are concerned. What is even more interesting is the fact that the kids need to get in line with the changing norms of the time and for that they have to know what is happening in the world around them (Friedland, 2004). They must be acquainted with the varying norms and routines so that they can achieve results which are virtuoso(a) from all angles. What is even more important is the fact that the kids must adapt to change and this change shall happen on an incremental basis for their respective growth and developmental levels nonetheless. It is a well-known fact that the world appreciates if the kids read, study and learn, not only when on their own but also with the help and guidance of their elders. Reading makes the kids go wild in their imagination. They explore the world around them and learn how to implement the same in a practical form (Stewart, 2011). This is a positive undertaking and should always be understood within the relevant angles. Reading with kids allows the parents to comprehend how their kids are shaping up within the study domains and what strengths and weaknesses are within their folds. They would be able to cover up the grey areas that remain within a childs fore and work upon the strengths to polish them further. It would also tell the parents that their children have some specific preferences as far as career adoption within the future domains is concerned. Hence there is an all-out effort and enterprise on the part of the parents to apprise the kids where they are falling and what they needed to do in order to move ahead further with the passage of time. This is so infallible because it will tackle the negatives to arise within the k ids and keep them at bay with the up and coming issues which might hurt their professional growth and development, and not to leave behind the personal one as well. How the kids perceive the entire reading process is something that shall be understood properly. This is because the kids want to get acquainted with the changing needs of the time, and this could only be possible if they are on the right track as far as their study realms are concerned. When parents give them the attention the kids learn quickly. It is because the kids know that their parents love them and care for them in the most loving way possible. When they read along with their parents, they come to know the different ways through which a cross language is comprehended, as well as the ways and means through which grammatical and spelling issues are tackled (Demoulin, 2003). The parents teach them how to pronounce words and make use of sentences as are required. They tell them the meanings and definitions of cert ain words, as well as detail them regarding the sentence structures all the same. Moving ahead with the discussion at hand, the kids need the time of
Monday, June 10, 2019
Politics (the founding fathers) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Politics (the founding fathers) - Essay ExampleThey attempted hard to erase the concept of elitism and worked hard to bring equality in the nation. the States through the profundity achieved great homogeneity and unity. They committed the whole nation to a single language unlike the Europeans. This homogeneity that was generated out of the enlightenment became the great strength of America and founded the base for what it is now. The powerful dreams of the American Enlightenment paved the way for Americas independence. This alone created the basic principles of the American Government. The enlightenment concepts made people view that a ruler or a government needs to strictly adhere to the higher laws of the republic. Political geniuses like Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, Samuel Adams, preciselytocks Adams, and James Madison successfully built up a government that was supported by the people of the republic. These founding fathers were able to put the founda tion of such(prenominal) an unconquerable kingdom that is still keen in protecting the natural rights of man. They made lasting impacts on the democracy of America. The encouraging ideas of the classical writings and the melodic phrase that helped people develop a craze for wisdom and knowledge were the major feature of the enlightenment period. Developments started putting in the fields of science, religion, and politics and thinkers supported the entire process with their exploding thoughts. Thomas Paines park Sense and Thomas Jeffersons Declaration of independence were some of the outcomes of the radical Enlightenment assumptions. Thomas Paines Common Sense was one of the results of the enlightenment period. The pamphlet that was published during the American Revolution stimulated the revolution and criticized the British rule harshly. The thoughts of the pamphlet became extremely popular and echoed in the minds of the American citizens. Paine gave the copyright for Common Sen se to the states, thereby becoming the greatest volunteer of the enlightenment movement. Thomas Jeffersons Declaration of Independence is another written proof of the enlightening thoughts of the period. Declaration of Independence which is the most important re stratum of American history said that the Thirteen Colonies were independent of Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the declaration has clearly stated the reasons for the interval from the British power. This Declaration of Independence is the ultimate reaction of the enlightenment period that earnestly sought freedom from the powerful hands of the British Empire. It is the written form of the desire of the early Americans. The thirst for independence that developed through the ideas of the enlightenment thinkers culminated into the United States Declaration of Independence. The philosophical background of the Declaration of Independence is nothing but the spirit of republicanism that was born during the enlighte nment period. Republicanism or the basic framework of liberty is the core of the enlightenment philosophy. George Washingtons name can never be omitted if we speak about the history of democracy in the United States. George Washington had in his hand the choice to make America a democracy, dictatorship or kingdom. More than thrice he had the
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Obsessive compulsive disorder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words
Obsessive compulsive disorder - Essay ExampleObsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental experience considered an Axis 1 mental illness in the DSM-IV-TR (American Psychiatric Association APA, 1994). According to the DSM OCD is defined as either a person cosmos obsessed with a topic or concept or compelled to think particular thoughts or to undertake particular actions. Obsessions can be defined as recurrent and persistent thoughts, images of impulses that are experienced during the OCD experience, and these are perceived as being intrusive and inappropriate and generally cause distress and or anxiety to the person experiencing them (March, 2006 Salkovskis et al., 2000 Wroe & Salkovskis, 2000).Common distressing thoughts, actions or verbalizations may be sexual in nature (10%), moral/religious/blasphemous (11%), aggressive (29%), contamination-disease (46%), or to do with symmetry and sequence (27%) (Matthews, Reynolds, & Derisley, 2006). These excessive thoughts, impulses and i mages are not just over stressing about day-to-day life, for as the person tries to suppress or dispel such thoughts, impulses or images or attempts to supplement them with other thoughts, images or actions, they cannot suppress or dispel their experience. ... nuously checking that a door is locked, or repetitive mental acts, such as praying or counting, results in the person feeling driven to undertake the behavior of thought according to a rigid set of rules (Rosack, 2004). The behaviors and mental acts prevent or reduce the anxiety and distress that is experienced, alternatively, the thoughts and behaviors may inhibit a dreaded event from occurring. Obsessions and compulsions cause significant distress, can take up much of the persons epoch during the day, and can dramatically interfere with their normal routine in everyday life, such as inhibiting them from carrying out their work role or attending to donnish studies (Simonds, Thorpe, & Elliott, 2000). Experiences also negati vely affect their ability to engage in social activities or to have fulfilling relationships. Additionally, if another Axis 1 mental illness is endue then the content of the obsessions and or compulsions may not be restricted to it for example, being preoccupied with food when an eating disorder is also present. Hollander, Cohen and Stein (2005) categorises unmatchable type of OCD experiences as repetitive behaviors that are driven by pleasure or arousal, such as pathological gambling, as the act of gambling involves risk of infection and reward. In a study by Anholt and colleagues (2004) a comparison of the dysfunctional beliefs of those with diagnosed OCD and participants diagnosed as pathological gamblers or panic disorder, and a group of normal controls. Beliefs were heedful using the Obsessive-Compulsive Beliefs Questionnaire-87 (OBQ-87). It was anticipated that the pathological gamblers would have similar cognitions to the OCD group and have high levels of OCD symptoms. Th e results showed that the OCD group and the gambling group had similar OBQ-87 scores
Saturday, June 8, 2019
Advanced Project Management unit 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Advanced Project Management unit 2 - Essay ExampleUnless the basic guidelines of BoK be adhered to, organizations would not be able to light upon competitive advantage through effective PM. Changes in technology, changes in HRM and constraints of time require organizations to be more efficient. The Maturity Models provide a logical pass for progressive development. The PM team at Toyota could achieve significant competitive advantage and respond to the changing business environment through the application of the principles, and the tools and techniques of PM (Maylor, 2010). Procedurilisation has to be adhered to and then creativity can be implemented, if projects have to be completed successfully.If it was not for the BoK, project managers would not know how to organize, manage and control projects (Evans, n.d.). BoK helps organizations to screw with critical issues and project planning is at the heart of project management.BoK does not encourage autonomy and empowerment. On the contrary they insist that procedures should be adhered to. If procedures are adhered to creativity is stifled. Without creativity and innovation projects may not achieve the desired level of success. According to PMI, the standards have to be consistently applied to achieve organizational worthiness (PMI, 2012). BoK does not merely provide the basic guidelines, but the standards have to be consistently appliedIf the organization or the project manager has to adhere to the quintet processes containing nine knowledge areas as per the BoK, there is little room for individual growth and development. If all projects follow the same nine principles, all projects are believably to follow the same mundane path and may not be able to cope with or respond to changes in technology.Certification programs in PMP are supposed to enhance eligibility to engage in the principles of BoK. However, failures of projects are a common phenomenon. This explains the importance of innovation in project m anagement. This also implies that BoK restrict
Friday, June 7, 2019
Sociological Analysis of the Crucible Essay Example for Free
Sociological Analysis of the Crucible EssaySometimes, the person who should be the one wielding the world power has none at all. In Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, he recounts the events of the Salem slime eels Trials. As he tells the events that occurred, he clearly paints out who held the power and who should have been in power during the trials. In Millers play, the person who holds the most power in Salem during the Witch Trials is Abigail Williams. Despite being a child and an orphan, for her p arnts had died and she was sent to live her uncle Mr. Parris, she was open to gain unlimited power during this short span of time. When Mr. Parris caught her and other local girls out dancing at night, she threatened the others, Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, or I will come to you in the black of some terrible night (20), and they listened to her. none of the girls would speak against Abigail, and when Mary Warren did, the other girls did not join Mary they protected Abigail and listened to her every word. As the play goes on, Abigail gains more and more power, accusing bulk in the townspeople as witches.At the end of Act 1, Abigail cries out to Reverend Hale, I want the light of God I saw Sarah neat with the Devil I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil(48). Unfortunately for the accused, they were arrested and were tried by assess Danforth, and were found to be guilty of witchcraft. Abigail becomes a saint in Salem, saving the villagers from the witches however, little do they know, Abigail is using her newfound power for her own good. When she accuses Goody Proctor of being a witch, no one questions her Abigail is helping the town out. But, the reason she accuses Goody Proctor is because Abigail secretly wants to be with John Proctor, Goody Proctors husband. When John Proctor defends his wife in court, he confesses to fornication with Abigail, and tells them that is why Abigail accused Goody Proctor in the first place. John Proctor tells Judge Danforth, But it is a whores vengeance she thinks to terpsichore with me on my wifes grave(110).Nether less, Abigail has power that John Proctor does not, she can see the Devil, and Danforth believes her. Abigail Williams has the power in Salem, though she does not merit it. Though Abigail has authority in Salem, the one who really deserves the power is John Proctor. Throughout the whole affair, Proctor is the only one who knows what is right and what is wrong. When Mr. Cheever comes to Proctors house to collect his wife, Goody Proctor, Proctor tells them, Is the accuser always holy now? We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are dangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law(77). Proctor accurately sums up the situation in Salem, yet no one with any real power believes him, and they all discount him.Later on in the play, Proctor tells Judge Danforth, I believe she means to murder, (104). J ohn Proctor was trying to tell the Judge that Abigail really was a bad person, not the saint she was painted out to be. But, Judge Danforth was under Abigails spell, and didnt listen to John Proctor, even though he was the only person who actually was thinking clearly during this whole situation. John Proctor was the only who kept clear head during the Salem Witch Trials, and if he had held the power, not Abigail, things would have changed drastically.In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the events of the Salem Witch Trials are recounted. As the play continues, Miller accurately shows who has the power and who should have had the power. Abigail Williams, despite being an orphan, was hailed as a saint and everyone listened to what she said however, she was a liar and a whore. John Proctor, who was accused of being a witch and was never listened to, had a clear head and understood what was happening unlike the other villagers. The Salem Witch Trials could have been avoided if the power had been taken out of Abigails hand and disposed(p) to John.
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Judaism, Christianity, Islam Essay Example for Free
Judaism, Christianity, Islam EssayThe three oldest religions are Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Judaism is a one of the oldest religions known to people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, which means that Judaic people demand to only one g-d. There werent too mevery religions like this when it originated which made Judaism very unique at the time. Moses was one of the most famous Jewish prophets. He led the Jewish people out of slavery, led them to Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, a set of rules that people even today so far follow. The Jews have many customs and traditions.Among them are circumcision, bar or bat mitzvah, special rituals and prayers to be said during a wedding and during death and lament. Circumcision is the removal of the prepuce of the penis. The rite of circumcision is one of the most ancient practices of Judaism. Circumcision is done because of a Commandment by God to Abraham as it is written in the Torah and as a preindication of com mitment of Jewish people.The Torah is Judaisms most important text. It contains the Five Books of Moses and is the source of the Ten Commandments. Bar or Bat mitzvah is when a child r to each onees the climb on of maturity, 13 for boys, and 12 for girls, and is ready to become an adult their community. At that age, a child becomes responsible for his actions and is obligated to observe the commandments. This ceremony is incorporated into an ordinary Sabbath service. During a Jewish wedding, the bride and groom get married under a special cloth called a chuppah or special canopy. Another tradition that is followed during a Jewish wedding is the breaking of a small glass at the end of the ceremony.This is to symbolize that even though this is a happy event, people should still cogitate the hardships that were faced before the Jewish people got to that place in time. During death and mourning, a Jewish family will sit shiva which is sitting in mourning for seven days after the death of a loved one. Some other customs are wearing a kippah on the head in a synagogue or wearing a tallit, a prayer shawl, while praying. Christianity is one of the worlds major monotheistic religions. Christianity takes the beliefs and practices very seriously. The aboriginal figure in Christianity is Jesus Christ.As the Son of God, he came to earth to teach most love and fellowship. He represents the person that all Christians must contact to be. Christians believe that he is the only one that ever lived on earth that can be called perfect from all worldly sins. The important thing to meet was that Jesus was God. He was here on earth to teach of Gods plan for all of humanity and to save the people of the world from their transgressions. In Christianity, God is almighty and rules over all of heaven and earth. He is the one that created the earth and one day will cast judgment over the constitutional earth.Christians understand that through Jesus Christ, people can be saved from this judgment. By believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God is outlives in all believers, and that God is almighty in power. A person can be saved from this judgment. Christians believe in heaven and hell. Heaven is the place where believers would bask the presence of God and other believers and freedom from suffering and sin. Hell is where unbelievers and sinners are punished for their sins committed during the course of their lives. Baptism is one of the most important sacraments in Christianity.It involves practise of or immersion in water, a blessing, and the pronouncement, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Most Christian churches baptize both infants and adults, but near believe that baptism is only rightly performed on adults. Views of baptism vary, but common views of the rituals include it grants or symbolizes salvation, commemorates Christs death and resurrection, fulfills the command of Jesus to baptize, cl eanses away sins, confers grace, and publicly expresses ones faith.Christianity also teaches rough the importance of attending Holy Mass. Its important for Christians to keep their Sabbath jibe to the commandments. It is observed on the seventh day which usually falls on a Sunday or Saturday and is considered a weekly day of rest from work. The day is spent fasting and praying and attending Holy Mass. At Mass, followers are taught about the teachings in the bible through scripture readings. The celebration of Mass would conclude with the sharing of communion.Communion represents the Passover that Jesus celebrated with his twelve disciples on the eve of His death. It is an integral part of Christian worship. It causes Christians to remember the Lords death and resurrection and to look for His glorious return in the future. Holidays, feasts and fasts are a significant part of Christian religious practice. The feast days celebrate joyous and sorrowful historical events such as the bi rth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, while the fast days go forth a special opportunity to focus on self-reflection, self-discipline and repentance.Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and it runs for forty days. During the forty days Christians fast and pray which represents the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying. Lent is followed by easter which represents the return of Jesus from the wilderness. Easter starts from Palm Sunday. His death and resurrection is observed during Easter. Special Services are kept in the church during this week and ends with Easter Sunday, the day that Jesus rose from the dead.Islam is a simple and practical religion. It has established, clear, and easily understandable beliefs and laws that any follower or student of the religion can easily understand. Islam affirms belief in a decent, polish society. Islam also does not demand impossible goodness of its followers, bu t it recognizes that all human beings make mistakes and sin. No one is exempt. Islam preaches peace, mercy, justice, tolerance, equality, love, truth, forgiveness, patience, morality, sincerity and righteousness.Islam is the religion that preaches the oneness of God, the Oneness of mankind and the Oneness of the Message. Muslims believe that there is only one supreme God, Allah. In Islam to believe in Allah is not only to believe in Allahs globe but also to believe in all Allahs attributions, to worship Allah alone, and to obey all Allahs commands. Islam teaches about the five pillars Shahada, Salah, Seyam, Zakat and Hajj. Shahada is the verbal commitment and pledge that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.It is the duty of every Muslim, male and female, after reaching the age of puberty, to perform five Salats or prayers at specific propagation during the day and night. These five specific times are Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset, and Night. A ritua l called Wudu, which is the cleaning several parts of the body with water, is a prerequisite to Salat. Fasting during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar, is from sun up to sun down only and is an obligation on every wellnessy adult Muslim, male or female.Fasting is total abstinence from eating, drinking, smoking, gum chewing, intimate relations, and taking anything into the body. If a person is ill and needs to take medication, he/she cannot fast. Fasting is also a time to discipline ones self from bad behaviors, such as arguing and saying mean things. Those who are ill or unable to fast for health or reasons of age are exempt from fasting. However, they should feel the poor one meal for every day they miss of fasting. Women who are pregnant, menstruating, or nursing, or any who are traveling, are also exempt from fasting.However, when their situation changes, they make up the days of fasting or feed the poor one meal for each day of fasting they missed. Za kat is an annual obligatory charity on every Muslim, male or female, who possesses over the last year money or airscrew that exceeds their minimum needs. The requirement is 2. 5% of ones excess wealth. The performance of the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim, if financially able, as well as physically able. Hajj begins every year during the month of Dul Hejja. Dul Hejja is the 12th month of the Islamic calendar year.The Hajj is a spiritual expedition where a Muslim forgets all worldly things and devotes his/her attention and time to Allah alone. Islam looks at the woman as an equal, mature and capable partner of a man, without whom a family cannot exist and teaches that men and women are all the creation of Allah, existing on a level of equal worth and value. In some societies women are treated according to ancestral customs and tribal tradition, but in Islam they are treated with full remark and honor. Islam preserves womens honor a nd dignity, and requires that she must be treated with respect and honor.Her femininity should not be exploited in any way, rather she is to be regarded and treated as human individual whose sexuality does not inscribe into her relationship with any person other than her husband. In Islam marriage cannot take place unless the female freely agrees to it and a dowry is given to her. Islam puts priorities for the husbands and wives. The responsibility for providing for the family is on the husband, while the responsibility to care for the house and raising the children is on the wife. These are the main priorities, but cooperation between the husband and the wife is required and highly recommended.
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Analysis of Child Development Research Essay Example for Free
Analysis of Child Development Research EssayThe purpose of the study was to comp be the outcomes of youth in long-term foster reverence with a group of kidskinren who entered into foster fretting and were subsequently pick out before reaching the jump on of 7 (Vinnerljung Hjern 2011). Previous research conducted by Bohman and Sigvardsson represent that at the age of 15, foster nestlingren who had been adopted performed as well in school as their peers who had never entered foster care. Children who were still in foster care had poorer grades and much behavioural problems. This gave the first implication that differences in child rearing environments are a strong factor in the positive or negative development of a child. The study consisted of a sample of 3,951 Swedish children born between 1972 and 1981. Each child entered care before the age of 7, and they were tested periodically until age 26. Of these children, 899 were adopted before the age of 7, and 3,062 grew up in foster care for much than 12 long time (before aging out of the program at the age of 18). follow children spent an number of 1.6 years in foster care before adoption, spell long-term foster care children spent an average of 16 years in care. The control group consisted of (consensus) data collected from 900,418 children who were never adopted or in foster care. These groups were adjusted for confound variables, such as enate mental health problems and substance abuse before and/or after birth, as well as for age at entry into care. The outcomes were measured by an intelligence test that consisted of four subtests logical, spatial, verbal, and technical capabilities. The scores ranged from 1-9, with 5 being average and a higher score indicating a higher cognitive competence. both(prenominal) experimental groups had weaker outcomes compared to the control existence, but foster children measured lower than adopted children in school performance, educational operation, e gotism-support capability, and cognitive competence. Children who were adopted at ages 4-6 showed improvements in cognitive ability all over time, and by their late teens typically scored faithfully to their non-adopted or fostered peers. Negative outcomes were found to be far more likely for those in long-term foster care, regardless of gender, while adopted children had more favorable outcomes for school performance, cognitive test scores, educational achievement, and reliance on public welfare.Foster children had, on average, lower grades and cognitive abilities. Half of fostered boys had very low or incomplete grades from primary school, compared to 1/3 of adopted boys and 1/5 of the control population boys. For girls, the data was 1/3, 1/6, and 1/12. Attrition rates for grades at the age of 16 were the following 13.4% for long-term foster care children, 4.3% for adopted children, and 2.4% for non-fostered or adopted children. By the age of 25, around 30% of fostered boys and 25% of fostered girls had only received a primary education. This is three times that of the control population, and twice that of the adoptees. Similarly, more fostered children were dependent on welfare at age 25 than children of the control group or adopted children.PAPER TWO Developmental outcomes after volt years for foster children returned home, remaining in care, or adopted Similar to the first, this study compared the developmental outcomes of children who entered into foster care as infants and either returned home, were adopted, or remained in foster care long-term. The first years of a childs life are critical for proper development, particularly because younger children are more easily influenced and have the highest levels of brain plasticity (Llyod Barth, 2011). Furthermore, previous research has suggested that young children in foster care are at a developmental encounter compared to their peers. It is possible, then, that either reunification or adoption might a lleviate these risks.The sample consisted of 353 children who were initially tested at 13 months, then again at 18, 36, and 66 months. The assessments were conducted with the child and the childs current caregiver (whether that be biological parent, adoptive parent, or foster parent). The childs status at 66 months determined their group designation of adopted, reunited/in-home, or fostered. All of the sampled children had to have at least one allegation of maltreatment. Maltreatment was divided into type ( tangible, emotional, neglect), to adjust for confounding factors. Many different tests were used to assess cognitive and behavioral delays in the children.These included the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Screener (which screens for problems in adaptive behavior and daily maintenance skills), the Pre-school Language Skills (which assess developmental domain of row), the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (which assess cognitive development in children over 4 years), the Woodcoc k-Johnson III tests of achievement (which assess educational outcomes of children at least 5 years old), and the Child Behavior Checklists (which assess behavior problems in children ages 2 and older).Far fewer children in the adopted group were classified at high developmental risk. This group also scored significantly higher on cognitive stimulation and caregiver responsiveness. The foster care group had the lowest means in cognitive and language skills, but the highest scores in adaptive behavior. On these measures, adopted children and children who were returned to their homes scored relatively close to one another. There were no significant differences among groups in different poverty rates.In conclusion, reunification and adoption commonly led to more positive outcomes, while long-term foster care typically resulted in poor developmental outcomes. These findings further suggest that adoptive placement specifically leads to improved social competence, language skills, and rea ding skills, but lower adaptive behavior development, while reunification mainly leads to better language development, math skills, and reading skills.PAPER THREE Developmental, Cognitive, and neuropsychological Functioning in Preschool-aged Foster Children Associations with Prior Maltreatment and Placement History This study differs sparingly from the first two by investigating the physical and cognitive developmental differences between foster children and children sustentation with their biological parents. Typically, younger foster children display higher rates of developmental and mental health problems, which are a lot associated with maltreatment, multiple placements in foster care, and younger age at initial placement (Pears Fisher, 2004). However, the majority of children receiving social and mental health services are over the age of 6, despite the fact that most children in foster care are between the ages of 2-5 years. Likewise, studies show that around 60% of the pr eschoolers entering foster care receive no treatment for developmental delays.The sample consists of two groups of children the first consisting of 99 3-6 year old foster children, and the second of 54 non-maltreated, same-age, comparable SES children living with their biological families. There were no major differences in mean child age, gender, or ethnicity between the two groups. Height, weight, and head circumference were used to measure physical growth over time. Neuropsychological function was tested with the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, which includes 11 subscales in five domains visuospatial processing (visual and spatial information processing), memory and learning, sensorimotor function, language, and attention/executive function.Cognitive function was measured with the Weschler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence-Revise. Auditory comprehension and expressive communication were measured with the Preschool Language Scale-Third Edition. Executive fu nction was further measured with two different tasks the stroop task, where, when a card with a sun on it is held up, the child must say day, and when a card with a lunation on it is help up, the child must say night and the card sort task, where the child must first sort cards according to the lick on the card, and then according to the color of the shape on the card.Height for age was positively associated with memory and language in both groups, although the correlation was slightly stronger in the foster group. Foster children were, in popular, shorter and lighter, and had smaller head circumferences than same-aged children in the control group. Children in the control group scored higher than foster children in visuospatial functioning, language, and general cognitive functioning. There was a moderately positive correlation between the age at which a child was first placed into foster care and the childs executive function. Children placed in foster care before the age of 2 scored significantly lower on visuospatial processing, and children with more than the average number of placements had lower scores on executive functioning.IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONSAll three of the studies show that children placed in long-term foster care typically have more developmental delays and behavioral issues than children who are adopted, reunited with their biological families, or never enter foster care in the first place.A general conclusion can be made in that foster children need higher quality care and support from their foster parents, caseworkers, and doctors. The negative educational trends found by Vinnerljung and Hjern (2011) suggest that foster children received less satisfactory support in their schoolwork than adopted children. Foster parents and caseworkers could benefit from lessons in how to interpret a childs behavior, nurture the child, and create a supportive learning environment for the child. This is especially important for younger ch ildren. Limited caseloads for social workers would allow for workers to cut down on children and spend more time ensuring that they are receiving proper care.It is also clear that foster children would benefit from more early intervention services. Early development, as discussed by Lloyd and Barth (2011), is rapid and easily influenced by environment and quality of caregivers. Intervention services could prevent developmental delays, and lessen preexisting ones. Currently, resources within the system are limited, and largely consumed by older foster children. This is assumed to be because as children age, they become a larger threat to themselves (by displaying instances of self harm, suicide, increased violence, etc.), and thus, are referred to mental health specialists.However, most of these behaviors stem from existing conditions present at a younger age, and would be more easily controlled if addressed at the younger age. It would then also be important that these children rec eive consistent, satisfactory health care. Screenings for developmental delays and other behavioral problems would increase the ability to catch these problems early on, and treat them when the child is still young, and potentially easier to help. As well, because foster children are constantly changing homes, it would be important to maintain records of these screenings, so that the information is always readily getable to caregivers, caseworkers, and doctors. This will ensure that the child is always receiving appropriate care.All three studies show the negative association between long-term foster care and a childs development, even with skilled caregivers and placement stability. Working toward the preservation of families and the avoidance of placement in foster care may benefit the child developmentally. If necessary, the child may be removed from the home for a period of time, but there should be increased efforts made to reunite child and parent. increase programing for par ents (rehab programs, teaching about early childhood development, etc.) could increase such potential.ReferencesLlyod, C., Barth, R. (2011). Developmental outcomes after five years for foster children returned home, remaining in care, or adopted. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(8), 1383-1391. doi10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.04.008Pears, K. Fisher, P. (2004). Developmental, cognitive, and neuropsychological functioning in preschool-aged foster children Associations with prior maltreatment and placement history. Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, 26(2), 112-122. Vinnerljung, B., Hjern, A. (2011). Cognitive, educational and self support outcomes of long- term foster care versus adoption A Swedish national cohort study. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(10), 1902-1910. doi10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.05.016
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