Definition1:
affectionate care and attention
As they grow, children need to be continually fed—physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Young children’s development across domains is highly connected. For example, young children with social-emotional challenges have been found to have comorbid delays in areas such as cognitive skills2, 3, 4 motor skills5, 6, and speech-language development7, 8. It is, therefore, important to provide holistic nurturance to promote optimal development. According to the American Heart Association, a heart-healthy diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has moderate low-mercury fish intake, and is low in sugars, salts, and saturated and trans saturated fats9. Infants and young children’s minds are fed when they have opportunities to explore, create, and learn language to explain their environments and experiences. Infants and young children benefit strongly from interactions with adults that are sensitive and responsive. Attachment theory posits that infants who learn to trust that their caregivers will meet their needs in a caring way (those that are ‘securely attached’) are best prepared for healthy social-emotional development. In contrast, those with ‘insecure attachments’ have been found to be at increased risk for behavioral disorders as preschoolers10, 11, with increased risk for social-emotional difficulties throughout childhood and into the adult years12, 13.
Sources:
1: Merriam Webster online dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurturance
2, 7: Baker, B. L., McIntyre, L. L., Blancher, J., Crnic, K., Edelbrock, C., & Low, C. (2003). Pre-school children with and without developmental delay: Behavior problems and parenting stress over time. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47(4/5), 217-230.
3, 5: Bulotsky-Shearer, R. J., Dominguez, X., & Bell, E. R. (2011). Preschool classroom behavioral context and school readiness outcomes for low-income children: A multilevel examination of child- and classroom-level influences. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2).
4, 6, 8: Montes, G., Lotyczewski, B. S>, Halterman, J. S., & Hightower, A. D. (2012). School readiness among children with behavior problems at entrance into kindergarten: Results from a US national study. European Journal of Pediatrics, 171, 541-548.
9: Pearson, T. A., Palaniappan, L. P., Artinian, N. T., et al. (2013). American Heart Association guide for improving cardiovascular health at the community level, 2013 update: A scientific statement for public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and health policy makers. Circulation, 127, 1730-1753.
10: Erickson, M. F., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (1985). The relationship between quality of attachment and behavior problems in preschool in a high-risk sample. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1/2), 147-166.
11: Shaw, D. S., & Vondra, J. I. (1995). Infant attachment security and maternal predictors of early behavior problems: A longitudinal study of low-income families. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 23(3), 335-357.
12: Lee, A., & Hankin, B. L. (2009). Insecure attachment, dysfunctional attitudes, and low self-esteem predicting prospective symptoms of depression and anxiety during adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38(2), 219-231.
13: Sund, A.M., & Wichstrom, L. (2002). Insecure attachment as a risk factor for future depressive symptoms in early adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(12), 1478-14485.
What types of nurturance do you feel most ready to provide to children or families in your daily life and/or community? What special resources may you be able to bring in to your nurturing work with others?
***feel free to do your own post and/or build off of others' posts to create a discussion forum***
affectionate care and attention
As they grow, children need to be continually fed—physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Young children’s development across domains is highly connected. For example, young children with social-emotional challenges have been found to have comorbid delays in areas such as cognitive skills2, 3, 4 motor skills5, 6, and speech-language development7, 8. It is, therefore, important to provide holistic nurturance to promote optimal development. According to the American Heart Association, a heart-healthy diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has moderate low-mercury fish intake, and is low in sugars, salts, and saturated and trans saturated fats9. Infants and young children’s minds are fed when they have opportunities to explore, create, and learn language to explain their environments and experiences. Infants and young children benefit strongly from interactions with adults that are sensitive and responsive. Attachment theory posits that infants who learn to trust that their caregivers will meet their needs in a caring way (those that are ‘securely attached’) are best prepared for healthy social-emotional development. In contrast, those with ‘insecure attachments’ have been found to be at increased risk for behavioral disorders as preschoolers10, 11, with increased risk for social-emotional difficulties throughout childhood and into the adult years12, 13.
Sources:
1: Merriam Webster online dictionary. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nurturance
2, 7: Baker, B. L., McIntyre, L. L., Blancher, J., Crnic, K., Edelbrock, C., & Low, C. (2003). Pre-school children with and without developmental delay: Behavior problems and parenting stress over time. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47(4/5), 217-230.
3, 5: Bulotsky-Shearer, R. J., Dominguez, X., & Bell, E. R. (2011). Preschool classroom behavioral context and school readiness outcomes for low-income children: A multilevel examination of child- and classroom-level influences. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2).
4, 6, 8: Montes, G., Lotyczewski, B. S>, Halterman, J. S., & Hightower, A. D. (2012). School readiness among children with behavior problems at entrance into kindergarten: Results from a US national study. European Journal of Pediatrics, 171, 541-548.
9: Pearson, T. A., Palaniappan, L. P., Artinian, N. T., et al. (2013). American Heart Association guide for improving cardiovascular health at the community level, 2013 update: A scientific statement for public health practitioners, healthcare providers, and health policy makers. Circulation, 127, 1730-1753.
10: Erickson, M. F., Sroufe, L. A., & Egeland, B. (1985). The relationship between quality of attachment and behavior problems in preschool in a high-risk sample. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 50(1/2), 147-166.
11: Shaw, D. S., & Vondra, J. I. (1995). Infant attachment security and maternal predictors of early behavior problems: A longitudinal study of low-income families. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 23(3), 335-357.
12: Lee, A., & Hankin, B. L. (2009). Insecure attachment, dysfunctional attitudes, and low self-esteem predicting prospective symptoms of depression and anxiety during adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 38(2), 219-231.
13: Sund, A.M., & Wichstrom, L. (2002). Insecure attachment as a risk factor for future depressive symptoms in early adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(12), 1478-14485.
What types of nurturance do you feel most ready to provide to children or families in your daily life and/or community? What special resources may you be able to bring in to your nurturing work with others?
***feel free to do your own post and/or build off of others' posts to create a discussion forum***