Consequence of Stress on Children's Development

When I was a child growing up in my native country of Panama, I remember there was a night of chaos I would never forget. I was between the age of four or five when there was a fire in the building across from mine. As a child seeing this blazing fire and people hurrying to get there most important items, made me have a feeling of anxiety. Seeing my family pack their things up, afraid that the fire could possibly reach to our building frightened me. I remember standing outside with all our essential belongings watching as people ran for their lives. Fortunately, our building didn’t catch on fire and we were able to go back to our apartment. However, that chaos certainly was the beginning of my fear of fire. I was afraid of fire for many years growing up.  The sight of a match being lit or stove being turned on, terrified me. I strongly believe that things that children experience in early childhood can definitely impact their lives tremendously.

No matter where you are from, chaos exists everywhere and affects the lives of many children. For the children of Sierra Leone, chaos and violence is nothing new for them. For a decade in Sierra Leone, children were force to become murders of innocent people and victims of violence. For many years war rebels kidnapped and force children to do violent acts towards their own people. Although, the war has ended, the consequences of violence remain for many of these children. Violence has not only impacted the children of Sierra Leone mentally but physically as well. Many of these children lost their hearing, limbs, eye sight, and were brutally damage as a result of the war. The children of Sierra Leone still suffer the impact of the war, although the country continues to move forward toward peace.

http://www.unicef.org/protection/sierraleone_34552.html