Child Development And Communication With Children Flashcards
Describe attachment theory
Understanding the relationship between infants and their primary care giver
System that function to maintain proximity to the care giver
Proximity seeking and contact maintaining behaviours
At what age do infants show preference for human faces over inanimate objects?
6 weeks old
What are the social developments that occur in a newborn at around 3 months old?
Distinguish strangers from non-strangers
Show preference for non-strangers
Allow any caring adult to handle them
When do infants from specific attachments and what does this mean?
7-8 months old
Will miss key people when they’re absent
Wary of strangers
What is the difference between a secure and insecure attachment?
Secure = may be comforted quickly on mother's return Insecure = very clingy, difficult for mother to leave
Attachment style is predicted by:
Carer sensitivity to the child’s signals
Rapid, appropriate responses emitted consistently
Carer accepts role of parent/carer
Carer has a higher self-esteem
Why is attachment important?
Infant forms first ‘mental model’ of how relationships should be based on primary care giver
Secure attachments give infant feelings of being worthy of love and care and that others will be available in their times of need
Influences brain development
If people have secure attachments as a child, what are they more likely to be better at in the future?
Social competence
Peer relationships
Self reliance
Physical and emotional health
What is defined as the ‘critical period’ for forming the first attachment?
First year of life
After what age migh it be difficult to form safe and secure relationships?
4 years
What has poor attachment as a child been linked to later in life?
Mental disorders
Suicide
What are the stages of separation that children experience?
Protest
Despair
Detachment
Why are the effects of separation unhelpful in a hospital setting?
Detachment may often be mistaken for recovery
Can mask damage to the underlying attachment relationship
Describe some behavioural changes that can occur in children who are separated from primary care givers
Anxiety/aggression/clinging
Bed wetting
Detachment
Describe the physical changes that can occur in children who are separated from care givers
Depression Slower movement Less play Less slee Changes in heart rate Changes in temperature
The most distress on separation from care givers happens between which ages?
6 months - 3 years
Why does the most distress on separation happen between 6 months and 3 years old?
Lack ability to keep image of carer in mind Limited language (may not understand carer is coming back) Often feel abandoned - like they have done something wrong
What are the criticisms of attachment theory?
Too simplistic
Overly focussed on mothers
Multiple attachment figures not explored
Quality of care not considered
Describe some improvements made to health care based on the child development knowledge we have now
Allow more parental/care access Allow attachment objects (blankets/toys) Reassurance that they are not being punished or abandoned Environment more like home Stimulating toys and activities High quality of care Continuity of staff
Give the 4 stages of a child’s cognitive development and the ages that these occur at
Sensorimotor (0-2 years)
Preoperational (2-7 years)
Concrete operational (7-12 years)
Formal operational (12 + years)
Describe the sensorimotor stage of development
Experience the world through senses Develop motor coordination No abstract concepts Develop body schema Develop understanding of object permanence (8 months)
Describe the pre-operational stage of development
Language development
Symbolic thought - able to imagine things
Egocentricism - difficulty seeing things from other people’s point of view
Lack of concept of conservation
Classification by a single feature
Describe the concrete operational stage of development
Logical but no abstract thinking Achieve conservation idea Classification by multiple features Able to see things from other's perspective Struggle with hypothetical statements
Describe the formal operational stage of development
Abstract logic possible
Hypothetical and deductive reasoning possible
What are the criticisms of the developmental cognitive stages?
Tends to focus on what a child cannot do
Every child develops differently
Unhelpful to a child’s learning if you keep things from them because you don’t think they can understand yet
What is the zone of proximal development?
The extra things that they have achieved which they couldn’t have done alone
Through peer/parent support
What is social referencing?
Children may look at closest-bonded family member to take their cue on how they should be thinking/feeling
What are the difficulties doctors face with adolescents?
Variable relationships with parents - do they want them in the consultation/hospital etc?
Increased independence (Gillick competence)
Increasing self awareness
Child legally until the age of 18 - can we see them without carers?
Give some helpful things to do when you have a child as a patient
Be truthful and emotional as appropriate Good eye contact Be calm - in control Acknowledge and greet the child Talking to parents first gives the child time and space to relax Observe, wait and listen (OWL) Give simple and clear information Act out what you're going to do Give children choices Play Distraction Give enthusiastic praise and rewards Acknowledge the child's feelings
Give some examples of what not to do when a child is your patient
Stand over the child Use any kind of force Promise things you cannot deliver/lie Express frustration Expect the same thing from different ages Ask too many questions
