Discussion

Growth and development issues have a tremendous impact on self-perception, behavior, and mental wellness in pediatric patients. It is important for children to have a realistic perception of where they are in terms of growth and development to function socially and to have good overall health. A negative self-perception may cause children to develop behavioral and mental health issues or may make existing issues less manageable. In your role as the provider, you must promote good self-perception, positive behavior, and mental wellness in children. You must also support parents by offering strategies that will help their children understand themselves and grow into happy, healthy young adults.

To prepare:

• Review this week's media presentation, as well as "Self-Perception Issues" and "Coping and Stress Tolerance: Mental Health and Illness" in the Burns et al. text and the American Academy of Pediatrics article in the Learning Resources.

• Select one of the following age groups: infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, or adolescents.

• Select one self-perception, one behavior, and one mental health issue common among members of this age group.

• Consider strategies for mitigating each issue that promote good self-perception, positive behavior, and mental wellness in the age group you selected. Reflect on how you might educate parents on implementing these strategies with their children.

• Think about resources that you can recommend to parents for additional education and/or support.

Post a brief explanation of one common self-perception, one behavior, and one mental health issue for the age group you selected. Then, explain strategies for mitigating each issue that promote good self-perception, positive behavior, and mental wellness in this age group. Explain how you might educate parents on implementing these strategies with their children. Finally, suggest resources that you might recommend to parents for additional education and/or support.