Forming and maintaining positive relationships is critical to the well-being of children and young people.
In the first two years of a child’s life, the brain develops and adapts more than at any other stage in a child’s development. Positive interactions during this period are crucial for a child’s healthy development.
Secure and consistent relationships during the early years help support firm attachments that are essential for a child’s healthy development. A child with secure attachments and support will develop positive self-esteem, confidence and a sense of well-being and belonging. They are able to manage their behaviour and feelings and develop positive relationships with others. Stable and supportive relationships give children and young people someone to turn to for advice and guidance. Positive relationships for children and young people could lead to long-term positive well-being, health and education.
As children and young people grow up, their capacity to develop and build relationships with others is crucial to their well-being. Some children with conditions such as autistic spectrum disorder may have difficulty in forming and maintaining relationships which can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being. Links have been shown between poor relationships with others and self-harming behaviours.
Many children and young people in care have experienced poor, inconsistent and abusive relationships. Where this has happened, they may find it difficult to trust adults and they may be reluctant to form relationships for fear of rejection. However, if these children are able to develop positive relationships with professionals, long-term outcomes for these children’s health and well-being are improved. Serious case reviews have noted the importance of professionals (e.g. social workers, police, health visitors, teachers) forming positive relationships with the children they are supporting. Children’s self-esteem and sense of worth is increased by supportive adults who are interested and listen to them. Evidence has shown that it is not the quantity or frequency of contact in relationships to children and young people but the quality. One significant adult is just as important as lots of relationships (Singer et al 2013).
Mae ffurfio a chynnal perthnasoedd cadarnhaol yn allweddol i lesiant plant a phobl ifanc.
Yn ystod dwy flynedd gyntaf bywyd plentyn, bydd yr ymennydd yn datblygu ac yn addasu mwy nag ar unrhyw adeg arall yn natblygiad plentyn. Mae rhyngweithiadau cadarnhaol yn ystod y cyfnod hwn yn allweddol er mwyn i'r plentyn ddatblygu'n iach.
Mae perthnasoedd sicr a chyson yn ystod y blynyddoedd cynnar yn helpu i gefnogi ymlyniadau cadarn sy'n hanfodol i ddatblygiad iach plentyn. Bydd plentyn ag ymlyniadau sicr a chymorth yn meithrin hunan-barch cadarnhaol, hyder ac ymdeimlad o lesiant a pherthyn. Gallai reoli ei ymddygiad a'i deimladau a meithrin perthnasoedd cadarnhaol ag eraill. Mae perthnasoedd sefydlog a chefnogol yn golygu bod gan blant a phobl ifanc rywun i droi ato am gymorth ac arweiniad. Gall perthnasoedd cadarnhaol i blant a phobl ifanc arwain at lesiant, iechyd ac addysg gadarnhaol hirdymor.
Wrth i blant a phobl ifanc dyfu'n hŷn, mae eu gallu i ffurfio a meithrin perthnasoedd ag eraill yn allweddol i'w llesiant. Gall rhai plant â chyflyrau fel anhwylder ar y sbectrwm awtistig ei chael hi'n anodd ffurfio a chynnal perthnasoedd, a all gael effaith negyddol ar iechyd meddwl a llesiant. Mae cysylltiadau wedi cael eu dangos rhwng perthnasoedd gwael ag eraill ac ymddygiad hunan-niweidiol.
Mae llawer o blant a phobl ifanc mewn gofal wedi profi perthnasoedd gwael, anghyson a chamdriniol. Lle bo hyn wedi digwydd, mae'n bosibl y byddant yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymddiried mewn oedolion a gallant fod yn amharod i ffurfio perthnasoedd oherwydd ofn y cânt eu gwrthod. Fodd bynnag, os gall y plant hyn feithrin perthnasoedd cadarnhaol â gweithwyr proffesiynol, bydd canlyniadau hirdymor i iechyd a llesiant y plant hyn yn gwella. Mae adolygiadau o achosion difrifol wedi nodi ei bod yn bwysig bod gweithwyr proffesiynol (e.e. gweithwyr cymdeithasol, yr heddlu, ymwelwyr iechyd, athrawon) yn ffurfio perthnasoedd cadarnhaol â'r plant y maent yn rhoi cymorth iddynt. Bydd hunan-barch plant a'u hymdeimlad o werth yn gwella o ganlyniad i oedolion cefnogol sydd â diddordeb ynddynt ac sy'n gwrando arnynt. Mae tystiolaeth wedi dangos nad faint o gyswllt a geir mewn perthnasoedd â phlant a phobl ifanc sy'n bwysig, na pha mor aml, ond ansawdd y cyswllt hwnnw. Mae un oedolyn arwyddocaol yr un mor bwysig â llawer o berthnasoedd (Singer et al 2013).
Response could include:
Ways of working that develop positive relationships with children and young people based on trust, respect and compassion include:
Ymhlith y ffyrdd o weithio sy'n meithrin perthnasoedd cadarnhaol â phlant a phobl ifanc yn seiliedig ar ymddiriedaeth, parch a thosturi mae: