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Tasia Rasmussen
ENG-2010
Kristen Taylor
06 September 2015
Evaluation: Aspects of Neglect in Child development
Childhood is an important developmental stage for any individual. These are the years
where a human brain begins mapping itself through speech, senses, interactions, and experiences.
Ideal development during these years depends upon the environment a child is raised in, the
relationships a child is subjected to, and the opportunities a child is given. These aspects of an
individuals childhood all help to map the brain enabling an individual to build healthy
relationships throughout life, create a healthy environment for themselves, and learn to become a
functional adult and contribute to society (see Figure 1). Experiences or incidents that a child
has in any of these areas can cause a lasting ripple effect throughout an individuals life as they
grow and learn to become a part of society. Society must value and support the nurturement and
the ideal development of children.

Society should support the proper

environmental care of children. The environment
that a child is raised in affects their physical, mental,
and emotional development as an individual learns
and builds connections on how to act and react to
different experiences and situations throughout life. According to the National Center for Child
Poverty (NCCP), The percentage of young children living in low-income families (both poor
and near poor) has been on the rise increasing from 43 percent in 2007 to 48 percent in 2013.

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As of 2013, data from the NCCP shows that 48% of the children in America are growing up in
low-income families, and 25% of children in
America live in poor families. Low income can lead

Figure 1. Center on the Developing Child at

Harvard University. InBrief: The Science of Early
Childhood Development. YouTube. YouTube, 06
Jan. 2011. Web. 06 Sep. 2015.

to insufficient living conditions as parents and caretakers struggle to provide the necessities to a
growing child. Money struggles can also lead to a lack of food, clothing, or shelter.
Furthermore, a parent or caretaker who is forced to work long hours or multiple jobs in order to
make ends meet may be unable to give the quality time and attention to a child that is necessary
for healthy development. Indeed, poverty can play a huge role in childrens lives, and directly
affects the opportunities made available to children as they grow up.
The opportunities that are available to a child directly affect not only early development,
but also later behavior and actions as an adult. Important opportunities such as social
interactions with parental figures and other children, as well as access to education and learning
opportunities can affect an individuals ability to learn new things later on and their ability to
interact in different social situations as an adult. A child raised in a high drug trafficking area
may easily give in to the opportunistic or peer pressures by delving into the world of drugs.
However, if given the opportunity to join a club, a sports team, or an after school function which
may cost money, this very child may gain interests which, when confronted by outside pressures,
actually outweigh any curiosity, want, or need to become a part of any unhealthy actions or
behavior. Indeed, children who are raised in impoverished homes and areas are more likely to
develop social and behavioral problems due to their physical environment, the individuals they
interact with, and the situations they are exposed to1.

1 In his text, T.J. Zirpoli states, Children raised within impoverished environments are at risk
for challenging behavior problems because they are frequently living in neighborhoods where
there are limited positive role models for appropriate social behaviors.

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Any relationship that an individual is subjected to during childhood will have lasting
effects throughout the rest of their life. Ideally, a child will be nurtured with appropriate
attention or affection through their developing years. The National Scientific Council on the
Developing Child states:

The quality and stability of a

childs human relationships
in the early years lay the
foundation for a wide range
of later developmental
outcomesself-confidence
and sound mental health,
motivation to learn,
achievement in school and
later in life, the ability to
control aggressive impulses
and resolve conflicts in nonFigure 2. Vassia. "Boy". pixabay.com.

violent ways, knowing the

difference between right and

wrong, having the capacity to develop and sustain casual friendships and intimate
relationships, and ultimately to be a successful parent oneself.

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Healthy relationships throughout childhood help individuals to form important feelings of
support, protection from physical and mental harm, and overall security in their own selves.
Negative relationships such as parental neglect and any sort of abuse, whether it be physical,
sexual, or mental and emotional will have a lasting impact on any child. Any abusive
environment is very harmful to children, and will have a lasting impact on their lives.

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Figure 3. Childrens Defense Fund. Eric Dearing: The State of Research on Children in Poverty. YouTube. YouTube, 27
April 2014. Web. 11 Sep. 2015.

Childhood experiences pave the way to adulthood. People are individuals at any age, and
will therefore act and react in different ways to different experiences. However, evidence
supports the negative effects that the environment, relationships, and life opportunities can have
on childhood development. A child raised in an impoverished environment will face physical,
emotional, and social struggles that can greatly hinder their progress (see Figure 3). Poverty
limits access to necessities, such as food and water, and decreases developmental opportunities
for children. The relationships that a child experiences in their early years of life shape their
ability to develop social and functional relationships as an adult. Furthermore, a child that is
deprived of opportunities early on will face decreased social skills, as well as an impaired ability
to learn new things and to adapt to different situations. That having been said, rather than
reporting a decline within these areas of society, evidence supports that these issues are on the
rise. Rather than being protected and nurtured during these crucial development years, children
continue to suffer from neglect.

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Works Cited
developingchild.net. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2004). Young
children develop in an environment of relationships. Working Paper No. 1. Web. 06 Sep
2015.
developingchild.harvard.edu. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. InBrief:
The Science of Early Childhood Development. YouTube. YouTube, 06 Jan. 2011. Web.
06 Sep. 2015.
Harding, Eric. The State of Research on Children in Poverty. Childrens Defense Fund.
YouTube, 27 April, 2014. Web. 11 September 2015.
nccp.org. National Center for Children in Poverty. Web. 14 Sep. 2015.
Vassia. Boy. 27 Sep. 2013. pixaby.com. Web. 17 Sep. 2015
Zirpoli, T.J. Environmental Influences on Young Childrens Behavior. Behavior
Management: Applications for Teachers (2008): 100, 102-107. education.com. Web.
12 Sep 2015.