Our children are challenged as they mature. They undergo constant physical and mental growth while engaging with their environment as well. The set of characters in their life changes and the drama of interactions become more complex. It is important at each stage of their lives to have nurturing relationships with adults so that these children can feel secure and be helped to make sense of what is happening to them.
Young children need nurturing relationships with their parents and extended families. They may suffer developmental difficulties such as delays in speaking, language comprehension, self calming, staying focused, walking, coordinating oneself in space, seeing and making sense of one's surroundings. These delays often get in the way of their capacity to engage with their parents and siblings in meaningful ways that may make them frustrated, enraged, or worse yet withdrawn. For this reason, it is important that these children get identified early with any of these problems. When they can get the help, they can acquire the skills necessary to stay engaged and feel secure.
As children age and are ready for school, they need to be able to transition form the world of their parents (and parent substitutes such as baby sitters and day care professionals), and siblings to that of the school (teachers, administrators, peers). The transition needs to be attended to by school staff and parents so that fears, anxieties, and other feelings are expressed and managed in a nurturing environment. This period is crucial because how the children cope with separation will be useful for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, the comfortable child that feels secure when he/she separate, can negotiate better the demands and challenges that await him/her socially and academically.
Achievement in school is accompanied by growing autonomy and expectations of independence. Children have to deal with changes in their bodies that are complicated and at times confusing. This is especially true of adolescence. In adolescence, physical changes in growth and sexual maturity are coupled with changes in self-concept. At the same time that adolescents are making decisions about their sexual activity, they are also dealing with other complicated aspects of their daily realities that may include violence, poverty, and substance abuse. Lack of information and/or misinformation can make it difficult to negotiate these realities. Proper attention from caring parents and adults can help these adolescents avoid problems such as school dropout, substance abuse, pregnancy, and suicide. Trust in an adult mentor or mentors is important to be established so the adolescents are comfortable asking for advice
