Alopecia+Areata

Who has seen a child in their class with patches of hair missing?
 * Alopecia Areata **

A lot of mothers thought my son had cancer but the reason was Alopecia Areata. Children and parents can be cruel and stare and as a mother with a child suffering from hair loss it broke my heart when he came home crying because of the name calling. He lost ½ to ¾ of his hair. It may not be a disability but at the age of six, it affected his self esteem and as a result his learning potential because he stopped drawing (his passion), didn’t want to go to school, and suffered depression.

Attachment is a deep and enduring affectionate bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Ainsworth 1973, Bowlby 1969). Teachers and children play a part in the recover or regrowth of a child’s hair with Alopecia without the support and compassion of teacher and children the life of a alopecia suffer can be horrible. Secure attachment can be related to many other aspects of a child’s life but I have drawn this connection to Alopecia. Secure attachment provides a feelings of security, so that children can explore freely and express emotions. While all children seek to feel secure, attachment and understanding from their teacher aids in their recovery as they are comforatble with their teacher and able to concentrate on learning rather than theri appearance. Attachment forms the basis of socializing children, a confident child will soliaz an insecure child will shy away and avoid others. As children and adults are drawn together and interact harmoniously, children adopt adult’s behaviour and values.

Attachment influences student’s school success. (Bergin and Bergin)
 * Secure attachment is associated with higher grades and school happiness.
 * Secure attachment is also associated with greater emotional regulation, social competence and willing to take on challenges.
 * Children's emotions well being is critical to school success, and attachment is the foundation of social emotional wellbeing.
 * Secure attachment is achieved through a creative, responsive, caring, well organised and committed teacher creating a positive, fun and supportive environment.
 * Children should feel safe in their relationship with their teacher – they should be able to admit confusion, errors and even a dislike to a subject.
 * A safe environment will increase secure attachment, increase social emotional wellbeing and can decrease disruptive behaviour.

Alopecia Areata is an immunological disease under genetic control, which disrupts the normal biology of the hair follicle. It can occur in children as young as 5 years old and continues to emerge throughout life. For more than 30 years, leading Dermatologists around the world have been studying hair growth patterns, genetic and immune theories, striving for a cure and an acceptable treatment for Alopecia Areata. Parents and teachers of children with alopecia areata need to keep in mind, children can be much more resilient than we imagine, but they can also be severely affected without care and attention. They are generally optimistic, and don’t have the expectation for rejection or ridicule that adults may have as they haven’t experienced or observed it. Children learn from those they are in direct contact with, as a parent or teacher if a child sees hair loss as a source of anxiety or sadness for you, they will internalise those feelings.
 * Alopecia Areata **
 * Alopecia areata, the most common variation of the autoimmune disease, presents itself as round, smooth patches of various sizes anywhere on the scalp. In over half of those affected, the hair regrow’s within 12 – 18 months without any treatment, but it can reoccur. ||  ||

A Project Promoting Alopecia Areata Awareness in the Primary School Classroom AAAF has many resources to assist. “A Project Promoting Alopecia Areata Awareness in the Primary School Classroom” is a school pack for primary school integration and has a wealth information and ideas on educating yourself and your classroom children on the condition. It includes heaps of information on how to educate children on what is alopecia areata, how to help improve self esteem, lessons plans and recommended reading. [|**Download the school pack here (pdf)**]**. **


 * Reference**

Bergin, C and Bergin, D. (2009). Attachment in the classroom //Education Psychological Review ,//21, 141 – 171

****Headz Up Web Site****
// Sue Atkins // is a Parent Coach, former Deputy Head with 22 years teaching and has experienced Alopecia, she provides some excellent tips on how to work through acts of bullying. [|**http://parentingaustralia.com.au/early-learning/behaviour/270-ten-actions-you-can-take-to-help-eliminate-bullying-by-sue-atkins**]

** Kids and Parents Support Lines - Counsellors trained in Alopecia **
Kids Helpline (ages 5 to 25 years) 1800 55 1800 (free call except from some mobile phones) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week @http://www.parentline.com.au/getting-help/who-else-can-help/other-helpline-services.php

** Support Groups **

 * ** Alopecia Areata Support Association ** || Email: aasavic@gmail.com

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~aasa/ ||
 * ** ACT ** || meg@aaaf.org.au

Phone: 0408627027 || Issue 27 July 6 2011 'That's Life' Magagzine has a great story on Caitlin - a brave six year old from Wanniassa ACT, who lost all her hair in three weeks, if you would like to read more. =**www.aaaf.org.au** =