When a Child is Neglected

One of the most heart breaking things in life is when a child is hurt, whether by accident or by abuse. A lot of the time, there are visible signs of abuse such as bruises, cuts, and broken bones, but sometimes it isn't easy to see signs. Some of the invisible signs can seem to be withdrawn, angry, quiet, and/or violent are just a few. These are warning signs for parents, teachers, and caregivers that something is wrong. If abuse is suspected then it should be reported to the proper authorities. But not all children that seem to be withdrawn and shy are abused; they could simply lack the social cognition to interact in society. When this is the case working with the child can help them to feel more comfortable in society.

Children that need help with social cognition will be the ones that so quiet that you forget they are there. They are the ones that do not seem to participate in activities in and out of school, and do not seem to have any friends. There are surveys to determine if a child fits in this description, but it could damage the child even further if he feels that he is singled out. That is the problem in the first place; he does not feel like he fits in. Simple observation can determine whether the child is feeling neglected.

Teachers that observe this should inform the child's parent of what is going with their child. Parents will have valuable information that will help the child. A child may feel uncomfortable in a social situation, but be a completely different child at home. This would indicate that the problem is at school. Information gathered by the parents and teachers will assist in forming a plan to help the child. This should be done in collaboration between parent and teacher.

A child that feels neglected needs to feel that they are important. Allowing them to read to a younger group of children may help them to feel that they are needed. Putting them in charge of a group project can help them to build confidence. Pairing them up with a more socially comfortable child can help to learn about proper social behavior. Many children will learn more effectively from their peers.