March 21, 2018
Psychological stress in overcrowded ECE
The New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists is warning there could be long term consequences from over-crowding in early childhood centres.
The previous government made increasing participation in early childhood education a priority, but with funding to the sector frozen since 2012 workers have alleged some centres are cutting cut corners with high staff to tamariki ratios and stressful conditions.
Association public issues spokesperson Lynne Holdem says stress affects both the physical and emotional development of children.
She says papers on attachment at the association’s recent conference highlighted the need for children to have an attentive and responsive caregiver who holds them in mind.
Other presentations at the conference recognised the significance of attachment to whanau, hapu, iwi whenua and wairua as well as to the primary caregiver or parent, for wellbeing of Maori.
She says disorganised and insecure attachment styles impact on the development of mental ill-health and addictions, violence and criminality, success rates in education, and employment
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