A protective environment it is any environment in which a person finds affection, care, protection against danger, understanding and support. It is an environment in which individuals can develop all their resources. Having access to one of them is essential for a person to reach their full potential.
Protective environments are in contrast to environments in which children are subjected to physical punishment, neglect by their caregivers, or abuse of any kind. Unfortunately, these negative situations are more frequent than we might think, and they have a very lasting impact on those who suffer them..
Creating a protective environment is one of the main fields of interest in developmental psychology. In addition, the discoveries in this area can be applied to improve the conditions of children and adolescents within fields such as the family, school and other educational spaces..
In this environment we will see what exactly a protective environment consists of, how they are generated, and what types exist. In addition, we will also present some examples to better illustrate this concept..
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For a protective environment to exist, a series of requirements must be met. The most important are the existence of a bond of trust between the child and the caregiver, the absence of threats, the freedom to explore and develop, and the satisfaction of their needs..
One of the most important concepts in all of developmental psychology is that of attachment bond. According to the theory from which this concept arises, children generate a special type of relationship with their main caregiver. Depending on the nature of this bond, the little one will suffer a series of consequences throughout his life.
Thus, the bond of attachment can be "secure"; that is, the child learns that he can count on the support of his caregiver and will feel protected by him.
However, in other cases the attachment may be "insecure", "anxious" or "ambivalent". All these types of bonds cause the little one to develop without trusting himself or others.
One of the main components of a protective environment, therefore, is the existence of a secure attachment within it. This can occur in the relationship with the father or mother, with one of the teachers in the case of the school, or with any other authority and reference figure that exists in the specific environment.
One of the most harmful behaviors that can be had with respect to a child is to show him, directly or indirectly, that he is not safe with us.
When an authority figure resorts to threats, or to physical or verbal violence, the little ones learn that they cannot trust anyone else and will suffer all kinds of problems in their development.
Thus, children who have had these kinds of experiences often grow up with irrational beliefs that they cannot trust anyone, and that they are not worthy of love or affection. This affects your self-esteem and your ability to develop as a whole person..
Therefore, creating a protective environment involves eliminating behaviors such as violence or threats towards the little ones. Instead of them, other less harmful educational styles can be used that have also been shown to be more effective, such as the one known as "authoritative"..
Many times, when an adult is responsible for a child, he tries to impose his way of seeing the world and way of thinking, while trying to prevent him from running into danger or facing threats.
However, this behavior is the enemy of the development of the child as a full individual and capable of fending for himself..
A protective environment should not mean that children avoid any potential problems. On the contrary, it has to allow them to make mistakes, explore their environment and equip them with the necessary tools to face the difficulties that come their way. All this, with the confidence that they have a safe place to return to.
Finally, a protective environment has to be able to meet the basic needs of the child. This implies, for example, having the necessary financial resources to provide them with food, water and shelter; but it also includes other less material but equally important elements.
Among the less tangible needs that a protective environment should be able to provide for the child are social support, the development of self-confidence, the creation of healthy habits and unconditional affection on the part of the authority figure..
In theory, it is possible for protective environments to develop in any context where there is an authority figure who meets the needs of the child and who meets the requirements mentioned above. However, in practice, these media occur mainly in two areas: in the family and at school..
Both parents / caregivers and teachers play a critical role in the early years of a child's life. Depending on how they behave with him, how they educate him and the type of environment they create, the little ones will grow up to become functional and happy people, or on the contrary they will have all kinds of problems.
That is why it is so important to create awareness among parents and teachers of what are considered good educational practices, and what actions or attitudes can harm the little ones in this critical period of their lives..
When there is a protective environment, children show a series of very specific behaviors that do not occur in other environments. Some of the most recognizable are the following:
- The little one tries to stay close to his reference figure, and feels more secure when he is with her.
- Initiates contact with the authority figure, both physical and emotional, on a recurring basis.
- Within the protective environment, the child explores more of his environment and shows greater curiosity about what surrounds him.
- Feel anxious or mistrustful when away from the reference figure, and try to get their attention or return to their side.
These behaviors are a sign that a protective environment has been successfully created. If conditions are maintained over time, the child will be much more likely to grow up healthy and happy, and to become an adult fully capable of managing himself..
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