Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I chose Afghanistan as the area of the world to investigate. The reason I chose this country is because Afghanistan is prominent in the Media do to the war on terrorism. Yet, we hardly hear anything about the suffering of the children. About 60 percent of adults in Afghanistan are illiterate.  Children have been living with political instability and war for the last three decades. Do to harsh climates and barren terrain, schooling often neglected. In addition, the harsh Taliban regime has made almost impossible especially for girls to get educated (Unicef, Education, 2011). In Afghanistan, children also face child labor and child marriages. Child Abuse often goes unreported do to insecurities that riffle the country. Cultural norms and believes also make it hard for locals to distinguish child abuse from these norms (Unicef, Child Protection, 2011).

I think political instability and cultural norms have taken many tolls on the emotional well being of children. These children are faced with war, death, and abuse on a regular basis. Education level is low and most children do not schooled regularly. Our children are taught to play and thrive; these children are taught how to survive in an unstable world.

When I read more about how children in Afghanistan suffer, I was shocked both on a personal and a professional level. I believe in advocating for children because they do not have a voice of their own. We often do advocate for children who we are closely connected to but what about the children in other parts of the world? I think we have to make sure that we are making other professionals and politicians aware of the challenges children all over the world face to make a difference.

References:

Unicef (Nov 2011). Education. Afghanistan Country Office: Factsheet. Retrieved on 17 November 2011 from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/files/ACO_Education_Factsheet_-_November_2011_.pdf.

Unicef (Nov 2011). Child Protection. Afghanistan Country Office: Factsheet. Retrieved on 17 November 2011 from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/files/ACO_Child_Protection_Factsheet_-_November_2011.pdf.