Social Support and Religious Faith

Another section of Chapter 13 that I found interesting is the section on Social Support and Religious Faith. I agree that expanding social world of school age children allows for new possibilities (Morris & Kalil, 2006) I also agree that having a strong social group such as church, community programs, and other people for support helps the child cope with stress easier. I believe this is why a lot of children that are having a tough time in life such as parents going through a divorce, low income, domestic abuse, and other crisis events are encouraged join groups/clubs. This way children are able to form close relationships with others while focusing their mind away from the negatives. I know many churches that have special groups for children, especially preteens and teenagers, to get together and talk about their life issues. They also involve them in games, trips, and other events. Sports is another big outlet for children I believe. In my experiences, sports have led me to most of my friends and something to put my negative energy into. Sports require a lot of effort and dedication so this makes them a good distraction from negative thoughts.Faith is another way that helps children feel better when things are going wrong. Prayer may also foster resilience (Berger, 2011) such as children's outlook in life and outlook on other people.

Citations:

Berger, Kathleen. (2011). The Developing Person Through the Life Span. New York, NY : Worth Publishers.