Friday, December 12, 2008

TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTS


Orphans in Africa

Orphans in Africa



Studies by psychologists show that emotional distress in adolescence and adulthood, including depression, alcoholism, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies, is often associated with abuse and bereavement suffered in childhood. 


Many young children have undergone diverse emotional distresses which are not faults of theirs. Take for instance, because of divorce alone, thousands of children born today spend their lives in a single-parent family. This has attributed to the high rate of child delinquency.

On many occasions when a child is bereaved, adults think they are too young to feel the loss. According to psychological reports, this assumption is absolutely wrong. 


Until recently, most psychologists believe that there is no way to help a mourning child to recover from painful encounters with separation and loss. These are a few recommendations suggested by psychologists to help a bereaved child. Communication starts by telling the child 

“You are not alone. I’m with you.” Hold the child who trusts you on your lap and soothe her with long strokes. Finally, the one can put an arm around the child’s shoulders; in this way easing the tension that builds up in the head, neck, and shoulders.