What can I learn from adults around me?
Relationships
We are not alone in this world. Many other people surround us, with our families, our community, our country and the world. We have different relationships with different people. These relationships or bonds are important. They can help us – or cause problems.
Important adults can be parents, grandparents, other caregivers, and teachers. Adult support is important for children’s healthy development and well-being.
We are not alone in this world. Many other people surround us, with our families, our community, our country and the world. We have different relationships with different people. These relationships or bonds are important. They can help us – or cause problems.
Important adults can be parents, grandparents, other caregivers, and teachers. Adult support is important for children’s healthy development and well-being.
We are all social beings. When we are born we completely depend on the care of others (our caregivers) to stay alive. From our earliest moments we are related to other people.
While growing up, the network of relationships expands. Alongside our families we find ourselves involved with friends, peers, teachers or other important people in the community or society.
While growing up, the network of relationships expands. Alongside our families we find ourselves involved with friends, peers, teachers or other important people in the community or society.
My friends are very important to me!
Just like my parents, my family members and my teachers.
Just like my parents, my family members and my teachers.
Through relationships with others we learn how to function in society. We develop an awareness of how others see us. We learn how to control our own behaviour to make it acceptable for others. The input from these ‘others’ is crucial for developing the ‘self’, the appropriate (gender) role, and appropriate social behaviour. Our personal morality is formed by interaction with others.
Relationships with others also provide us with the warmth and the emotional and physical support that we all need.
Relationships with others also provide us with the warmth and the emotional and physical support that we all need.
Relationships with adults
In this module we will focus on the child’s relationships with adults. Every child needs physical, emotional, social and moral support from relevant adults in order to grow and develop – both physically and mentally.
In this module we will focus on the child’s relationships with adults. Every child needs physical, emotional, social and moral support from relevant adults in order to grow and develop – both physically and mentally.
Parents and caregivers
Parental warmth, expressed in both physical (e.g. hugs) and verbal ways (e.g. praise of achievements and expressions of love and care), is universal.
Parents or other direct caregivers can provide the best support a child needs. Children, receiving attention and care, feel safe and are better able to explore the world and develop different skills. Parental support has a positive influence on psychological well-being, self-esteem, and achievement of children.
Parental warmth, expressed in both physical (e.g. hugs) and verbal ways (e.g. praise of achievements and expressions of love and care), is universal.
Parents or other direct caregivers can provide the best support a child needs. Children, receiving attention and care, feel safe and are better able to explore the world and develop different skills. Parental support has a positive influence on psychological well-being, self-esteem, and achievement of children.
Importance of relationships
Support of other adults is also essential, e.g. grandparents, neighbours, and teachers. Through their relationships with adults children form their identity and learn about cultural norms and values. Interaction with adults helps them to develop into functional members of their societies.
Support of other adults is also essential, e.g. grandparents, neighbours, and teachers. Through their relationships with adults children form their identity and learn about cultural norms and values. Interaction with adults helps them to develop into functional members of their societies.
Besides working with children on relationships with adults, War Child also involves adults such
as parents and teachers in its interventions.
as parents and teachers in its interventions.
At the same time, a lack of attention from relevant adults can be extremely destructive. Lack of parental warmth can result in aggression, bad behaviour at school, emotional unresponsiveness, and depression.
The same applies to negative attention from adults, which has an even greater impact on children. Abuse and neglect seriously endanger a child’s development.
The same applies to negative attention from adults, which has an even greater impact on children. Abuse and neglect seriously endanger a child’s development.
This module is about regular, acceptable problems between adults and children. Should you identify cases of serious abuse or neglect, you should report this to your superior, in order to
decide what steps to take.
decide what steps to take.
Goals of the module 'Relationships with adults':
The children have gained more ‘tools’ to maintain or restore positive relations with important adults in their lives.
Sessions:
The children have gained more ‘tools’ to maintain or restore positive relations with important adults in their lives.
Sessions:
- My caregivers.
- Other important adults in my life.
Session 1: My caregivers
Goal: The children have explored and analysed their relationships with the important adults in their lives, with a special focus on their caregiver(s).
In the first session you will make the children aware of the role of the care giving adults in their lives. The children will discuss how they relate to these adults in their personal life.
Goal: The children have explored and analysed their relationships with the important adults in their lives, with a special focus on their caregiver(s).
In the first session you will make the children aware of the role of the care giving adults in their lives. The children will discuss how they relate to these adults in their personal life.
I often talk to my aunt about things that bother me.
Session 2: Other important adults in my life
Goal: The children have explored difficult situations with other important adults and learnt ways to deal with those situations.
The second session will focus on the other important adults the child meets in his/her life. In many cases, this will be teachers (this can differ in different situations). Some of these relations are positive, but in a lot of cases, problems occur. You will help them reflect on their role as a child and make them aware of a healthy position towards those adults.
Goal: The children have explored difficult situations with other important adults and learnt ways to deal with those situations.
The second session will focus on the other important adults the child meets in his/her life. In many cases, this will be teachers (this can differ in different situations). Some of these relations are positive, but in a lot of cases, problems occur. You will help them reflect on their role as a child and make them aware of a healthy position towards those adults.
My teacher always tells me that my drawings are nice!
It makes me feel so proud.
It makes me feel so proud.
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