My friend has a five year old daughter. Trust me, it's not myself, I don't fancy children enough to babysit, let alone have my own. This child was recently kicked out of her school for being violent with the other children too many times, including an incident in which she broke a magnifying glass and chased another child with the broken glass pieces. The other night, she told me she likes to hurt herself because it feels good...followed by punching herself in the head. Her parents both ground her and tell her it's wrong, but they've done nothing to prevent anything from happening. She is only five years old and at that age most children don't experiencing hurting themselves for fun, or admit to doing it because it feels good. There is nothing that I can do to help, other than my many attempts to try and get the parents to have her see a psychiatrist. Until they help her, is there anything I can do, as a friend, to help prevent such violence in a child?
2007-12-15 10:55:56 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Also, she is raised in a home with 5 other children, 3 with the same mother different fathers and 2 who are the boyfriends children. She is the only child with her father in her life (other than the ones living with their dad). Her parents are seperated. Her mother does not seem like the most responsible person, I've only met the father...who won't be getting the "dad of the year" award anytime soon. They're both young, mid 20s. It's sad, but it's hard to just watch this happen to an innocent child.
2007-12-15 11:01:32 · update #1
she's 5. she's still into cartoons and I doubt that she'd understand the messages in music. she listens to rhianna and avril, also that disney music...that seems to be irrelevant to this situation.
2007-12-15 11:06:38 · update #2
It might be time to call Child Protective Services. If the child truly needs professional help and isn't getting it, then she is being neglected.
This little girl appears to be going to extreme lengths to get attention. Punishing a child who is already punishing herself doesn't make sense to me. Sounds to me like the parents need some help.
2007-12-15 11:29:19 · answer #1 · answered by Blank 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
http://www.kellybear.com/TeacherArticles/TeacherTip44.html
Here is an article on this issue
Rapidly reduce the tension in their body and mind
Relieve their emotional pain caused by feeling worthless, angry, fearful, abandoned, depressed, anxious, or trapped
Feel pain that tells them they are "alive" thus warding off emotional detachment
Regain control since turning mental and emotional pain into physical pain is easier for them to handle
Punish themselves for real or perceived offenses like being bad, fat, ugly, stupid, or guilty (for example, a boy who feels guilty over the death of his brother may challenge a bigger boy to fight because he knows he will get hurt)
Express anger/rage when words or outward actions are unacceptable or when the pain is too severe to put into words (for example, children may have been told that expressing an emotion is wrong, or they may have been severely punished for expressing certain thoughts or feelings)
2007-12-15 12:20:13 · answer #2 · answered by Kristi B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like shes had some personal trauma. probably at home. she wants attention and to be loved. isn't that what we all really want inside? to be loved? you need to stand up and be a responsible person by having a heart to heart with this woman who is her "mother". if she refuses to do anything about it, you take the situation to a physciatrist. if the mother refuses to go, then you need to call child protective services. personally, to me, it sounds like this little girl is being abused at home, and being bad, or hurting herself is just a way to show that she needs, and wants, attention. get her help now.
2007-12-15 12:18:42 · answer #3 · answered by :) 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a chaotic family life; one in which she may feel unloved and insecure because of all the relationship changes. That could cause her to feel a great deal of anger which she unleashes on others as well as herself. Sometimes emotional pain is so hard to deal with that one deliberately causes physical pain to him/herself.
2007-12-15 11:08:36 · answer #4 · answered by Mountain Girl 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
she could be doing it for attention because some parents don't give their kids any attention at all so they have to be bad to get attention sounds like they are horrible parents for not taking her to a therapist
2007-12-15 11:19:41 · answer #5 · answered by Megan A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like something serious is going on at home?
Too much gory TV?
Abusive parents/siblings?
I hate refering children to psychologists, but this sounds like she really needs one.
2007-12-15 13:18:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
sexual abuse comes to mind.
the child needs help, and many parents who know the "why's" don't want to be found out. her issues could be neurological too.. she really needs to see a doctor.
it's a shame...
2007-12-15 14:36:35 · answer #7 · answered by letterstoheather 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
DCFS can direct you maybe give them a call.
2007-12-15 15:27:14 · answer #8 · answered by gracie0568 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if she is hurting herself at that age she should be in a mental hospital
2007-12-15 11:25:18 · answer #9 · answered by sammi 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
ok if she listens to music as rap hip op ect that will make this happen she needs to get counceled and also she also needs more disapline in her life not grounding spanking
2007-12-15 11:03:42 · answer #10 · answered by bumbee14 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋