Question

A new family has just been referred to your program. Before you meet, you review what you know about the family. Soha arrived 10 months ago with her children, sponsored by other family members. Her husband has found work in another city, but Soha and the children are living with their relatives and usually see the father only on weekends. They are a visible minority in a predominantly white neighborhood. Soha and the children have a room in the basement. Ahmed is 6 years old; Fadeyah is 3 and Hamid 6 months. Ahmed is enrolled in Kindergarten. Fadeyah was registered for Kindergarten recently. She appeared clingy and reluctant to leave her mother. She was unable to complete a simple puzzle or build a tower with 6 blocks. When you meet with the family, they have brought a younger female relative to act as interpreter. Hamid is bundled in several layers of blankets and quietly sleeps in his mother’s arms. Ahmed has just come from school. He shows you his artwork. He has made several shapes and connected them with lines. He is able to communicate in simple English, and tells you that he really likes the playground at school and that he is a good climber. He seems full of energy and happy to play with some toys you give him. Fadeyah is holding her mother’s clothes and does not want to leave her side. She is not making eye contact when you talk to her. When you ask through the interpreter if she would like to play with some toys, she does not reply and does not take any of the toys you offer. Finally her mother takes a doll you have offered and gives it to Fadeyah, saying something in her own language. Fadeyah lays the doll beside her. When you give her some crayons and ask her to draw a picture, she holds the crayon in her fist and makes a few dots on the paper.

Questions:

1.       What are this family’s strengths?

2.       What can Ahmed do?

3.       How does Ahmed’s development (physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional) compare to the development of a 6-year old?

4.       What do you know about Hamid?

5.       What else would you like to know about Hamid? Please explain why you would like this information.

6.       What concerns do you have about Hamid?

7.       What risk factors can you identify that might influence the children’s development?

8.       What can Fadeyah do?

9.       How does Fadeyah’s development compare to the development of a 3-year old?

10.   What concerns do you about Fadeyah’s development?

11.   How can you stimulate Fadeyah’s fine motor development?

12.   How can you assess if Fadeyah’s development in the other domains is “on track”?

13.   What factors in the family’s living conditions and history could be risk factors?

14.   Which community services can you refer the family to for added support?

*In your write up, be sure that the following are addressed in one or more of your responses:

1.       Factors that can influence a child’s development.

2.       Factors that contribute to developmental differences.

3.       The role attachment plays in a child’s development.

4.       Physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional development for each child.

5.       Cultural influences on a child’s development and parenting approaches.

6.       Ways in which the environmental can impact a child’s safety and development.

The impact of trauma on a child’s behavior and development

Answer 1

1.The strengths of this family lies in the mutual love, affection,cooperation,support and the cohesive emotional bond that the members sharing among them.

2.Ahmed can do artwork. He has made several shapes and connected them with lines. He is able to communicate in simple English. He is full of energy and can play with toys.

3.Compated to the development of a six year old child, Ahmed's development is good. His development in terms of physical, social and cognitive development is normal.

4.Havid is just 6 months old and normally he sleeps in his mother's arm.

5.Hamid is too young.So nothing much can be known about him.

6.The only concern about Hamid is that his sleep.

8.Fadeyah is 3 years old and just registered for KG. She looks clingy and does not want to leave her mother. She does not make eye contact with others while communicating. She is not able to complete simple puzzles.

9.Fadeyah's development compared to that of other children is absolutely normaL

10.The only concern for Federal is that she cannot make eye contacts with others.