Child Safety Minister: love and nurture your children
Published Monday, 21 May, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Children’s experiences during early childhood give them the best – or the worst – chance at life, Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle says.
During Under Eights Week this week, Ms Boyle is urging Queensland parents to spend time with their children helping them to grow and develop, especially in their first few years of life.
“It is widely known that children need love and attention in their early years,” Ms Boyle said.
“What is not as well-known, is that a lack of love and attention in a child’s early years can have life-long impacts.”
Ms Boyle said she was shocked at research that showed just how much neglect could impact on a child’s brain development.
“Alarming, children who suffer severe sensory neglect can have much smaller brains than other children,” she said. (see attached image)
“Children can have trouble learning to talk, developing their fine motor skills and even knowing how to love and have healthy relationships later in life.
“It is so important that we give our children the best start to life – and it’s not that hard.
“Parents need to love their children, feed them, give them a safe place to live in and show them a bit of patience. After all, there is only one chance at childhood.”
In Queensland in 2005-06, the Department of Child Safety substantiated 4096 cases of neglect against 3069 distinct children.
Under Eights Week runs from May 18-25 and is organised by Early Childhood Australia. For more information, go to www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
21 May 2007
Note: The attached image compares the brain of a normal 3-year-old child (the image on the left) with the brain of a 3-year-old who has suffered severe environmental sensory-deprivaction neglect (the image on the right). The child who has suffered neglect has a significantly smaller brain.
It is taken from British Government Report “Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion” which attributes the graphic to Perry B (2002) Childhood Experience and the Expression of Genetic Potential: What Childhood Neglect Tells Us About Nature and Nurture, Brain and Mind 3: 79-100
During Under Eights Week this week, Ms Boyle is urging Queensland parents to spend time with their children helping them to grow and develop, especially in their first few years of life.
“It is widely known that children need love and attention in their early years,” Ms Boyle said.
“What is not as well-known, is that a lack of love and attention in a child’s early years can have life-long impacts.”
Ms Boyle said she was shocked at research that showed just how much neglect could impact on a child’s brain development.
“Alarming, children who suffer severe sensory neglect can have much smaller brains than other children,” she said. (see attached image)
“Children can have trouble learning to talk, developing their fine motor skills and even knowing how to love and have healthy relationships later in life.
“It is so important that we give our children the best start to life – and it’s not that hard.
“Parents need to love their children, feed them, give them a safe place to live in and show them a bit of patience. After all, there is only one chance at childhood.”
In Queensland in 2005-06, the Department of Child Safety substantiated 4096 cases of neglect against 3069 distinct children.
Under Eights Week runs from May 18-25 and is organised by Early Childhood Australia. For more information, go to www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
21 May 2007
Note: The attached image compares the brain of a normal 3-year-old child (the image on the left) with the brain of a 3-year-old who has suffered severe environmental sensory-deprivaction neglect (the image on the right). The child who has suffered neglect has a significantly smaller brain.
It is taken from British Government Report “Reaching Out: An Action Plan on Social Exclusion” which attributes the graphic to Perry B (2002) Childhood Experience and the Expression of Genetic Potential: What Childhood Neglect Tells Us About Nature and Nurture, Brain and Mind 3: 79-100