Educator's Toolkit to promote a Healthy Child

    This section is a closely connected with physical development, as they both involve the anatomy. Growth spurts start early in puberty in girls, but longer for boys. (American Psychological Association, 2002, p 7) The Ontario curriculum establishes that the child should be informed of the knowledge and skills about their body and relationships with others before making sound decisions about their sexual health. (Ministry of Education, 2015, p 42)

 

    Early maturing females and late maturing boys are most likely to be disadvantaged without support from the school or community because of as a result of depression and social issues. (American Psychological Association, 2002, p 8) Early maturing girls tend to have risky behaviours and unpopular with from other peers. Late maturing males have more chance of depression, in family conflicts, and with school problems. It is important that parents are made aware of these possible youth and seek professional advice. Support from school and the community may also be available through the curriculum to youth to reflect on one's identity (such as self-image) and sexual orientation (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)) (Ministry of Education, 2015, p 104).

 

    The section also has a social view as well. (Spelke, 2005, p 950) Many discussions on gender in scientific fields show that women tend to be less likely to be in the fields of mathematics and science. Some indicate it may be genetic differences, others predict it may be due to misconceptions in society (p 951). Spelke concludes the genetic differences are nearly negligible and it may be social misconceptions that produce the gender gap. (p 956)