Risk and Protective Factors in Children's Development

Early years of life are of great importance, because what happens during childhood affects mental and physical health during life. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to briefly present protective and risk factors affecting children’s growth.
In the present review study, some mentioned issues related to child protective and risk factors were searched and explored in Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect databases as well as Google search engine for publications between 1980-2016 using risk factors, protective factors, normal growth, child, mental pathology, behavioral issues, and emotional issues keywords.
In the period between infancy and childhood, the quality of children's relation with their parents and caretakers, and all the environments in which they live and learn, has significant effects on their cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Therefore, it is essential that governments, health organizations, and families provide a secure supportive environment and also stable relationships that children need.