Discussion : Working with Young Children

I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.

-Abraham Maslow, The Psychology of Science

One of the more important skills you will develop as a counselor is the ability to identify a client's unique biological, cultural, and environmental influences and adapt your interventions appropriately.

This is especially true when working with young children, as their identities and real-world understandings have yet to fully develop. If they do not yet know "who they are," how can you, as a counselor, begin to tell them?

For this Discussion, review the media, "Young Childhood." Focus on the child aged 4-10 for whom you will develop interventions. As you construct your interventions, consider the information you have previously collected about this family. Utilize the Learning Resources and the current literature to support your post.

Post a brief summary of your client (young child), including presenting issues, family dynamics, and the young child's attachment to primary caregiver(s).

Then, describe at least one significant development-related issue for the young child. Explain why this is an issue.

Finally, explain two interventions you might employ to enhance the young child's development, including why you think they are appropriate. Justify your response with references to this week's Learning Resources and the current literature. Be specific.

Readings

· Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2015). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.