Impact of Armed Conflict on Child Development

Children in war torn countries do not have the opportunity to grow and develop in the ideal environment.  They are affected physically, socially and emotionally by the effects of war. 

Physically infants are not in an environment that surrounds the child with pleasing and encouraging emotions. The parent’s are stressed and emotions are elevated in anticipation of what is going on around them.  Children learn to rationalize emotions and reactions by watching faces of their caretakers. When a baby smiles at you, it is because you are smiling at them, or they have already learned that if they smile at you, then you will smile back.  In areas that are torn with armed conflict, I wonder if parents can even experience this with their children.  Also, as children develop it is normal for a healthy child to experiment with their surroundings.  They learn to wander around and explore.  In countries at war children are not playing and wandering far from their parents. They are not exposed to the “normal” teachable moments that a healthy child should experience. Instead they are learning to fear certain sounds, smells or even people. 

Another aspect of the physical development is that food and water sources may be affected. Children, as well as their parents, may not be eating properly. War affects the food supply both by cutting off communities from receiving supplies, or because they are scared to venture far from their homes to farm land.  Water is also affected because adults are in fear of their lives and therefore do not wander far from home to retrieve water. In places where water is pumped into the home, power and water sources may be cut off as a way to make life unbearable for the community.  In countries where refugees are living in camps, food and water are delivered in shipments. In war torn communities, shipments can be destroyed or not delivered because of passing through combat zones.  Mother’s who breastfeed are able to feed their babies, and perhaps are the greatest hope for their child to eat properly.  Mothers are able to breastfeed even when under stress and not eating a full diet. However, if the mother becomes is affected by malnutrition or sick, she will not be able to continue.  Also, breastfeeding means that both mother and child stay together. In some cases, they are separated either by death or capture.

Socially they may experience the love of their caretaker, but are not out in their communities participating in the “normal” social experiences that children in non- combat areas are experiences. They are learning not to trust any person outside of their home.  When children are not socialized properly they learn to fear the world. Socially this puts the child as a great disadvantage after the conflict seizes.  During the conflict, however, it is a technique that may save their lives. Because they are kept in the confines of their “home” they are not learning to play with others, learn social cues and are missing out on cultural or ethnic experiences. All of this affects the development of the child.

According to un.org, children in areas of armed conflict “always experience a significant change in their beliefs and attitudes, including a fundamental loss of trust in others”. (   )  The rebuilding of trust in children is a challenge, but it is important for those that interact with the children in their daily lives.  There are some activities that have been identified as supportive to the healing of children.  Establishing daily routines such as going to school, preparing food, washing clothes and working in the fields; providing them with the intellectual and emotional stimulation through structured group activities such as play, sports, drawing, drama and story-telling and providing them with the opportunity for expression, attachment, and trust that comes from a stable, caring and nurturing relationship with adults.  All of these activities will provide children with a sense of purpose, self-esteem and identity.         (UNICEF)

                                           

Impact of Armed Conflict on Children. Retrieved November 26, 2010. http://www.un.org/rights/introduc.htm#contents