Child Development

Knowledge of child development is the foundation for work with children, and therefore is a requirement for all those seeking to protect children. It influences every aspect of a child from physical growth and mental abilities, to how they express emotions, think and behave.

Healthy development takes children through stages, whereby they obtain an increasing number of physical, mental, and emotional skills in order to become independent adults. These stages provide benchmarks for determining if a child is developing normally. Without knowledge of the normal developmental stages of a child, a worker cannot identify developmental delays, assess the impact of abuse, or make recommendations regarding the child’s physical, mental or emotional health. Understanding what a child is capable of allows adults to communicate on their level and provide age-appropriate responses and interventions.

Knowledge of early childhood development and attachment behaviour is particularly important for protection workers. The physical health and care a child experiences as an infant will affect their development into adulthood. A child needs to have experienced a positive attachment by the age of 3 in order to develop cognitively, physically, socially, and psychologically. Healthy attachments come from the close bond a child experiences when provided with the responsive and stable care of at least one adult. In a residential home, children are less likely to receive the amount of individual attention from a permanent caretaker that they require. Children under 12, in particular, benefit more from a kinship, foster or adoption placement where they can experience closer relationships.

Observation of a child’s attachment to caretakers will influence the type of care, permanency plan, and level of support services offered. It can also aid in the identification of abuse.

This section contains information on the importance of child development knowledge, guidance on the ages and stages of children, and attachment theory.

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Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict and Displacement: An Introductory Training Module

Action for the Rights of Children, 2003

Training module outlining key principles concerning the protection of children affected by armed conflict and displacement. Topics include legal frameworks, identifying protection issues, threats to children in emergencies, and promoting healthy child development.

The Effects of Improving Caregiving on Early Development

Christina Groark, Robert McCall, Rifkat Muhamedrahimov, Natalia Nikoforova and Oleg Palmov, 2003

Through a review of orphanages in St. Petersburg, Russia, this study examines the causal roles of consistency in caregivers and appropriate caregiving behaviors in the social, emotional, and development of young children.

Institutions vs. Foster Homes: The Empirical Base for a Century of Action

Richard P. Barth , 2002

A review of institutional care and family-centered care with a discussion of both positive and negative aspects of group care. This review paper is primarily focused on showing the inefficacy of group care and recommending other forms of care such as kinship care and even foster care as options that are more cost effective and better for children’s development.

Working With and For Adolescents: Some UNICEF Examples

UNICEF, 2002

Compiled case descriptions from a diverse set of programs that work with and for adolescents. Analysis emphasizes common challenges and lessons learned for strategic planning.

Completing the Evaluation Triangle for the Next Century: Measuring Child “Well-Being” in Family Foster Care

James P. Gleeson, Altshuler Sandra J. - Family Foster Care in the Next Century, 30 Mar 2001

This article, a chapter in the book Family Foster Care in the Next Century, describes how child well-being has been conceptualized and measured in research on family foster care, and discusses the essential dimensions that should be included in a useful measure of child well-being.

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Child Needs Assessment Tool Kit

N/A, 2001

A comprehensive tool kit providing a methodology, questionnaire and software for assessing the needs of young children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Used to help design of service programs, secure funding, and monitor and evaluate programs specifically targeting the needs of young children and their families.

Foundations: Community Mobilisation: Resource Pack

Action for the Rights of Children, 2001

Discusses the importance, benefits and challenges to community mobilisation for refugees and other displaced persons, with a particular emphasis on children. Includes facilitators notes, participatory exercises, overheads, and handouts.

Action for the Rights of the Child (ARC): Child Development

Save the Children Alliance, UNHCR, UNICEF and OHCHR, 2001

Training materials on the threats to children’s development from displacement and armed conflict and other emergency situations. It includes guidance on strategies to promote children’s development in adverse conditions.

Foundations: Child and Adolescent Development: Resource Pack

Action for the Rights of Children, 2001

Resource pack for a course in child and adolescent development. Emphasis on identifying threats to childhood development and strategies to promote development in adverse conditions. Includes facilitators notes, participatory exercises, overheads, and handouts.

Children and Disability in the Context of Family Breakdown in Central and South Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union

Elayn Sammon, 2001

A study on children with disabilities in the context of family breakdown. Includes overviews and statistics from 10 countries, a call for strengthened family support services, and draft guidelines on how child agencies can better mainstream these issues into their work.