“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” (Frederick Douglass, 1817-1895)

Frederick Douglass was an African-American statesman had the opportunity of escaping slavery and later he became a leader of the ABOLITIONIST movement, all through his life time, he was known for campaigning and standing for equality for all not considering their background. He was found of the saying, “I will unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong”.

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A critical study of children from the past to even the present in our environment today clearly affirmed that Frederick’s quote “it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” is true.

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The children of today will definitely turn out to be men tomorrow and the attitude formed from childhood resides or become inbuilt even and manifest at adulthood.
Children while still growing and at a very tender ages are exposed to a number of Adverse Children Experiences, among which are;

1. Abuse (mental, physical and emotional)
2. Domestic violence
3. Alcoholic and drug abusive parents
4. No parental care and neglect

This list is endless and increases the vulnerability and interrupts normal functions of the Child's brain.

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The good news is that the whole hope is not yet lost for children with adverse experiences. Effort should be made in tackling it at the earliest opportunity which inturn gives the child the chance to develop as expected in order to function well in the present and the future society.

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Things that happen in the life of a child and can aggravate or increase the effect of adverse childhood experiences are;

1. Living with an alcoholic
2. Living with mentally deranged people
3. Living with people who have made suicide attempts
4. Separated or divorced parents
5. Living in a lawless neigbourhood with high crime rate and violence
6. Living in poverty
7. Racial/ethnicity crises
8. Death of parents

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What happens in early childhood can matter for a lifetime and studies have shown that children exposed to certain lifestyle portrays some negative attitudes, some of the experiences are;
• Living with someone who is mentally ill or who has suicidal ideation
• Experiencing divorce or parental separation
• Living sight someone who has an alcohol or drug problem
• Being a victim or witness of neighbourhood violence
• Experiencing socioeconomic hardship
• Witnessing domestic violence
• Having a parent in prison
• Being treated or judged unfairly due to race or ethnicity
• Experiencing the death of a parent

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Intervening early is a major/best way to improve the chances of children growing up to succeed and have the best possible changes in life. A lot of young people are without home, needing medical assistance and mentorship.
Early childhood intervention is arguably one of the best ways to improve the chances of children growing up to succeed as best they can and to have the best possible chances in life, what they actually need is a society that cares for them more than the situation which led these vulnerable young people to end up on the streets in the first place.
Our society needs to take up their respective responsibility of protecting the children now than ever before to protect those children within it who are at risk of, or who have suffered from, significant harm.