THE DELINQUENT CHILD

New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 238, 14 January 1944, Page 8

THE DELINQUENT CHILD

(Written for "The Listener’ by DR.

H. B.

TURBOTT

Director of the

Yivision of School Hygiene, Health Department)

(Continued) . CHILD’S environment — home, school and neighbourhood — if faulty in spirit, is an important cause of delinquency, but not the only cause. If it were, delinquents would come from the same area and same families in a town. In practice they don’t. Quite often there is but the one delinquent child in a family, and he may live in a superior neighbourhood. The cause is personal, deep-rooted in the child. Usually the child can’t explain why he is anti-social, or gives a false reason because he doesn’t know the underlying cause, and’ may therefore be dubbed a "liar" to boot. He doesn’t know he does his wrong acts to offset loneliness and boredom or to gain special notice and praise from delinquent playmates because he is neglected at home. He acts wrongly to get into the limelight to increase his conception of importance, which parents, teachers, or playmates have undermined by ridicule or continued criticism. It follows, surely, that punishment should not. be the end of the faulty action. Better should the cause behind the wrong deed be sought. The child is not wanting to break the law; he is aiming at admiration, or dependance of playmates, on his prowess to offset the deep dissatisfaction within himself. He is probably highly strung, restless, and of the bully type,:and although sometimes a day-dreamer who likes to be by himself, usually company is sought and a gang formed. The very energy, restlessness and urge that makes a child a delinquent and drives him finally to become an adult criminal, can be turned by parents and teachers into channels leading to good citizenship. The brunt of the battle falls on the parents. They have to conceive their child as an individual that doesn’t need to resemble them or be better than they are. Their own likes and dislikes are not the cue for child guidance. If they had a hard upbringing, there’s no need to be hard on their own child, neither should they be over-indulgent. Whatever gives them satisfaction may not be best for the child. Being a parent means more than providing food and a home. The child reflects these as he does the sunshine, and need not show gratitude. Food and shelter are elemental parental duties; affection and guidance are, too, but in some homes these last are lacking, and here’s the main reason why children run wild. It is no use blaming the child. The remedy lies in winning back the child’s loyalty and obedience by showing him you love him, by trying to understand him, by talking over his problems with him and advising him. The child wants to admire and trust someone, and is almost always willing to give a person another chance. Disagreements in the home over the child’s supervision are fatal-father and mother must pull together. Don’t drive a child to emulate a clever brother or father; he will feel inferior if he fails, (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) and may compensate by delinquency. He should be encouraged to develop his own natural ability and bent. This will bring him admiration, will satisfy, and save any tendency to run wild. Finally, children should not be left to play on the streets while mother is at war-work. Arrange adequate care in a kindergarten or day foster home. A parent should see that his child has wholesome activities the day through.