NCJ Number
117298
Journal
Child and Youth Care Quarterly Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 185-194
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article describes characteristics of child abuse victims and how the adult can best meet the victim's special needs in a group setting.
Abstract
In learning to survive in their environment, child abuse victims have adapted in one of two ways: either with internalized and overcontrolled behaviors or externalized and undercontrolled behaviors. The child with internalized and overcontrolled behavior is uninhibited, shy, anxious, fearful, withdrawn, depressed, and/or frightened. On the other hand, the child who has adapted by externalizing with undercontrolled behaviors that are aggressive, angry, and hostile is not easily overlooked and difficult to be around. Only one fourth of child abuse victims are aggressive and negative; the majority are overly compliant and accept whatever happens to them. To assist preschool teachers of young child abuse victims who have both internalized overcontrolled and externalized undercontrolled behavior, the following techniques are effective: (1) clear and simple communication; (2) appropriate behavior definition; (3) language stimulation; and (4) encouragement of social, emotional, motor, and cognitive skill development. All staff members need training specifically for their jobs with child victims. Anytime special needs children are mainstreamed into a preschool, the staff-child ratios need to be lowered to allow staff to individualize and to prevent staff from being overwhelmed by the demands being placed on them. 16 references. (Author abstract modified)