Research that Benefits Children and Families

I recently read an article in the Young Children’s magazine that used research to assist with young children coping with separation.  As an administrator of a military child development center I see so many children struggling with separation.   With the variety of deployments that are in constant rotation our young children are not coping very well with the separation.  Research has proven to us that it is typical for children to experience separation anxiety between the ages of 6 and 8 months old and again at 18 months (Yeary,2013).

Some great ways to assist with young children coping with separation:

·         Record the person reading a book or singing a song

·         Have a piece of clothing with the persons scent on it (this typically comforts the child) to carry or have near

·         Child safe photo album

Research has proved that infants 6 to 8 weeks old can tell the difference using the sense of smell to tell the difference between mother and father (Berlin, Cassidy, & Appleyard, 2008).  Having research like this is very imperative to have.  Young families and early childhood educators can benefit from this research and can pass it along to others that will be experiencing this milestone with their children.   

Berlin, L., Cassidy, J., Appleyard, K. (2008). “The Influence of Early Attachments on other Relationships" Chap.15 in Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, Clinical Applications, 2^nd ed., eds.  Cassidy, J. & Shaver, P. 333-47. New York: Guilford.

Yeary, J. (2013) Rocking and Rolling. Promoting Mindfulness: Helping Young Children Cope with

                Separation. YC: Young Children, 68(5), 110-112

Ways to Foster the Emotional Needs of a Young Child after Nightmares

Ways to Foster the Emotional Needs of a Young Child after Nightmares

I chose this subtopic because of personal occurrences that my own children have dealt with.  I have always thought that nightmares are from experiences in life that your brain is trying to file away but gets stalled.  For children I know that it is important for them to not be exposed to traumatic situations, but let's face it we live in a society that is dramatic and everything is observable through media.  Our children are freely watching this and as we expect they have no idea how to absorb it.  I found it hard to foster my own child with their emotional needs when they were experiencing nightmares.  Hugging them and telling them softly that it was not real, it was just a dream.  But what else could be done to ease the pain after the nightmare?

For this week's assignment, I have just began collecting resources to support my research.  What about all of my colleagues, do you have ways to foster the emotional needs of a young child after nightmares?