Social development is fundamentally important, not just for children’s social relationships but also for their cognitive and even physical development (Gerhardt, 2006). The focus of this concern has been the consequences of withdrawing children from social interaction and progress that are highlighted by the examples of feral children and Romanian orphans. The concept of a protective environment is presented in correlation and it is outlined how this can help reduce the impact of isolation and enhance inclusion.
Social deprivation is defined as a reduction or prevention of culturally normal interaction between an individual and the rest of society. (Wikipedia)
Observing a normal interaction between a caregiver, usually the mother, and a baby …show more content…
Feral children have grown up away from a social and sometimes domestic environment, significantly away from speech. The example of ‘Victor the wild boy of Aveyron' (Reader p57/58) illustrates a young boy from the southwest of France in the eighteenth century that disappeared in the woods at the age of approximately five, remaining undiscovered until more than six years later. He had grown up away from any human contact and even the nurture he received later in his life by a doctor, Jean Itard, after his reappearance did not enable him to speak or show compassion. This inability was due to the extreme situation he had been exposed to at a young age. The aspect of nurture that doctor Jean Itard attempted to add to the circumstances surrounding Victor from Aveyron was supposed to reverse or ease some of the results of his experience. While doctor Itard’s attempt did not enable Victor to speak he did learn to understand simple …show more content…
The orphans living in the Romanian institution were raised in extraordinary and horrific circumstances. While very basic physical needs such as food and cleaning were provided, children were lined up in their beds and did not receive any emotional support and interaction or nurture at all. Many of the minors that used to live in the orphanage at that time were later adopted by British families and studied by specialists as they presented a very rare opportunity to gain an insight into ‘social deprivation'. One family gave an account of how difficult it was for the children to adapt to normal life. The parents explained how they had to teach the minors about everything starting from a family dinner situation all the way to what relationships and friendships mean. It was found that while many of the children showed signs of autism and learning difficulties, especially in cases of longer institutionalisation, adding the protective factor of a new family and stability helped tremendously in overcoming many effects. Several of the Romanian orphans are now able to actively participate in a normal
Social deprivation is defined as a reduction or prevention of culturally normal interaction between an individual and the rest of society. (Wikipedia)
Observing a normal interaction between a caregiver, usually the mother, and a baby …show more content…
Feral children have grown up away from a social and sometimes domestic environment, significantly away from speech. The example of ‘Victor the wild boy of Aveyron' (Reader p57/58) illustrates a young boy from the southwest of France in the eighteenth century that disappeared in the woods at the age of approximately five, remaining undiscovered until more than six years later. He had grown up away from any human contact and even the nurture he received later in his life by a doctor, Jean Itard, after his reappearance did not enable him to speak or show compassion. This inability was due to the extreme situation he had been exposed to at a young age. The aspect of nurture that doctor Jean Itard attempted to add to the circumstances surrounding Victor from Aveyron was supposed to reverse or ease some of the results of his experience. While doctor Itard’s attempt did not enable Victor to speak he did learn to understand simple …show more content…
The orphans living in the Romanian institution were raised in extraordinary and horrific circumstances. While very basic physical needs such as food and cleaning were provided, children were lined up in their beds and did not receive any emotional support and interaction or nurture at all. Many of the minors that used to live in the orphanage at that time were later adopted by British families and studied by specialists as they presented a very rare opportunity to gain an insight into ‘social deprivation'. One family gave an account of how difficult it was for the children to adapt to normal life. The parents explained how they had to teach the minors about everything starting from a family dinner situation all the way to what relationships and friendships mean. It was found that while many of the children showed signs of autism and learning difficulties, especially in cases of longer institutionalisation, adding the protective factor of a new family and stability helped tremendously in overcoming many effects. Several of the Romanian orphans are now able to actively participate in a normal