Children's Needs – Parenting Capacity - Digital Education Resource ...

124 Children’s Needs – Parenting CapacityChildren may be isolated because parents who experience mental illness, learningdisabilities, substance misuse and domestic violence frequently distance themselvesfrom family and friends. There is a danger that children within such households arerarely taken out of the house, do not visit relatives and friends or get taken withparents to shops and playgrounds; as a result they may lead very restricted andisolated lives.I used to take the children to the park and feed the ducks, but I can’t do that nowbecause I might have a fit. I can’t let them play on swings and things like thatbecause I might have a fit. I have a hard time with them and keeping them fromdoing things.(Mother with a learning disability with four children the youngest beingtwo years, quoted in Cleaver and Nicholson 2007, p.100)To sum upKey problems for children aged 1–2 years Health may be affected because illness and injury are not recognised andadequate and timely medical help not sought. Risk of accidents, injuries and abuse may be increased because parentalawareness and supervision is inadequate. Diet may be inadequate and unsuitable. Health problems can be exacerbated by living in impoverished physicalenvironments. Cognitive and language development may be delayed because of a lack ofparental encouragement and praise, or because parents react negatively andwith hostility. Insecure attachment and longer-term emotional and behavioural problemsmay arise as a result of unpredictable and frightening parental behaviour.This may be exacerbated by unplanned separations or when parents areemotionally unavailable. Development of a positive identity could be difficult because children arerejected and uncertain of who they are. Witnessing violence and frightening behaviour may result in childrenfeeling helpless and in some cases coming to view cruelty and aggression asacceptable.