The Impact of Early Adversity
Ideally, children are exposed to positive factors within their environment that accumulate and contribute, over time, to positive developmental outcomes. Many children, however, are exposed to adverse experiences, including such things as homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, abuse, and toxic stress. These adverse experiences can have a lifelong, toxic impact on the brain (Shonkoff et al., 2011).
Early childhood professionals have an essential role in creating and supporting stable, responsive environments that reduce and reverse the impact of adversity (Center on the Developing Child, 2015b). In this Discussion, you explore the impact of adverse experiences and the role of the early childhood professional in supporting healthy, nurturing developmental contexts.
To prepare:
Refer to this module’s Learning Resources and read the articles by Bernier et al., “Social Factors in the Development of Early Executive Functioning: A Closer Look at the Caregiving Environment,” and by Shonkoff et al., “The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress.” Then, using the Walden Library, select and read at least one additional peer-reviewed research article that is less than 5 years old and focuses on the impact of risk factors/adversity on healthy child development and learning.
As you review each of the articles, consider the following:
• The influence of adverse experiences on healthy development and learning
• Contextual factors that can be marshaled to support positive development and learning outcomes
• Strategies that can be used by professionals to reduce the impact of adversity on young children’s development and learning
• A brief analysis of the impact of adversity on young children’s development and learning based on the two articles provided and the one you have selected
• A description of one or two contextual factors that are most relevant to the population of children with whom you work or hope to work
• A description of specific strategies designed to reduce the impact of these risk factors in young children and their families and how these strategies can be effectively supported within the care and learning environment
Cite appropriate references in APA format to substantiate your thinking.