Impacts on Early Emotional Development

To my colleagues, I chose France as the area of the world because I have always dreamed of visiting it. I have seen in books, magazines, movies, and on television how they show France as being beautiful to me. The language of the people is spoken in French in which I know a little of it because I took classes in high school. It has been a  many years ago since I have spoken French. I will have to refresh  my mind by getting a tutor to help me or by listening to cds that can teach me as well.

One challenge that children in this region of the world are confronting would be a series of workshops on the conditions of vulnerable children. It is estimated that more than 2 million French children are living below the European poverty line. Another challenge was to stop the recruitment of children in armed conflict. A third challenge is when 2 million children are trafficked worldwide and more than 100,000 websites use pornographic pictures or videos of children. The last challenge was when a boy orphaned by AIDS demand action for children. These experiences might have an effect on children's emotional well-being and development because "AIDS related illness killed more than half a million children worldwide and 540,00 children under the age of 15 became infected with HIV" (UNICEF).

My personal and professional reflection is when "UNICEF France Chairman Jacques Hintzy states that millions of children in the country, especially those from diverse backgrounds were living in poverty and exclusion in which tens of thousands of teenagers have expressed their anxiety about the future" (UNICEF). The insights that I gained is how France has to depend on other people and partner with organizations and nations to help children with AIDS/HIV, child exploitation, children in armed conflict, and promotion of children's rights. These influences they may have on me as a person and as an early childhood professional is to ensure the children, parents, and teachers that there are interventions and resources that will help them to face challenges and illnesses whenever they do occur.

Reference:
UNICEF. (22005). At a glance: France.  Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/france.html