Question

Case Study: 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. 7. The impact of trauma on a child’s behavior and development.

Answer 1

This case study is really good, it shows how children really want their culture, their parents, have language impact knowingly or unknowingly on themselves. As Jean Piaget says language plays an important role in the cognitive development of children.

Ans 1) The strength can be the family is residing with relative, the relative is known one. They have got interpreter. Both of them come from same culture and must be following same language habits or cultural habits. Soha and her interpreter is providing good love and care to their children.

Ans 2) Ahmed is on good track as per his age. He is interested in physical activities, as well takes interest in new things. He doesn't seems to be shy in new surroundings. He is on a good track and is able to grasp english as 2 and language very good.

Ans 3) I would compare Ahmed's development very normal neither above nor below the average age group of 6 year old. It is very nice to see that Ahmed is viewing everything from the positive aspect or the positive view.

Ans 4) Not much information is given about Hamid expect from being a 6 months. But he also given lot of care and love, he feels secure in his mother's arms he sleeps peacefully there. :) That means even is love need as said by Paiget is getting fulfilled.

Ans 5) I would like to know more information such as does he enjoys listening to music, does he enjoys when his other siblings are around? Does he enjoys going outside house? What is he babbling? All this information is needed to know whether Hamid's cognitive or emotional development is going well.

Ans 6) I have concern, that he gets to see his father only on weekends. Children need their fathers also He would not get attach to him.

Ans 7) The same risk factor I can identify that is not meeting father. People or families live happily or peacefully in small place. But when one spouse is not there, the family is staying at basement. They may feel that this place is not of their own. Soha must be feeling burdened at some point of time.

Ans 8 and 9) Fayedh has shifted when it was her learning age to get to know the world. Ahmed was old enough 5-6 years old, Hamid is still a baby not having much needs of cognition. Whereas as Fayedh has received a cultural shock. It is hindering her cognitive ability. She must be feeling much secure with her own culture, and hence she is not ready to go with her mom. Fayedh can speak in her own mother tongue. Whereas some other 3 year old people are very good and outgoing. They know how to joining puzzles. They at least try to be outgoing.

Ans 10) I feel, her father should be around in order to make her more outgoing or bold. With the help of father she will get introduced to the new world very securely.

Ans 11) I would give her paper to tear, I would give more crayons, would her glue and pasting activities, would give her to hard pages to book, to turn the pages.

Ans 12) Fayedh should be able to join puzzles, she should be able to climb slide. She should ask her mom to play music of her favourite choice. She should know how and what makes her comfortable.

Ans 13) As I have mentioned above living in basement is difficult, they may not feel as their own home. I feel as in History such as people from Arabic countries are not considered as intellectually developed, people in the world believe that terrorists are born more than nice people around.