September 1994
Violent Teens
Teenagers are showing more violent behavior today than ever before, reflecting the problems of society at large. "We need only to open a newspaper or turn on the TV to see how pervasive violence is in America today," according to psychoanalyst George C. Kaplan, M.D.
Adolescence is a time of intense pressure. Multiple developmental demands include teenagers' needs to deal with their new body image, a heightened sense of their own sexuality and aggression and a different and more independent relationship with their parents. Impulses are experienced as requiring immediate satisfaction. "These struggles are more likely to erupt into violent behavior when teenagers are surrounded by peers who are also violent."
Changes in family and community life influence a teenager's behavior. Dr. Kaplan states, "Many families today are fragmented, and parental support has been eroded due to a variety of socioeconomic factors. In previous generations, many families were able to provide their children with a strong sense of identity and conscience. Many children today enter adolescence without a sense of safety, and they lack the ability to control their aggressive impulses." In addition, "About one-third of the teenagers who have been abused tend to abuse others."
Adolescents have difficulty thinking about the consequences of their actions. Their main concern is for gratification and acceptance of their behavior by their peers. "To address the complex issue of teenage violence, we need to work with adolescents on two levels: individually and in the groups they join to 'fit in.'"
To interview Dr. Kaplan about violence and teenagers, please call Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.
Health Hints: How to Choose a Day Care Program
When mom and dad both work full time - a common scenario in the Bay Area today - their children often go to day care. Shahla Chehrazi, M.D., Chair of the Child Development Program of the San Francisco Psychoanalytic Institute and author of Psychosocial Issues in Day Care , suggests parents ask the following questions when screening day care services:
What is the staff-to-child ratio? Staffing for children younger than 18 months should be 1 to 3 or 4; for toddlers the ratio should be 1 to 5 or 6; and in preschool, the ratio should not be more than 1 to 8. It is important that the group sit together for snack and circle time and for each child to feel they have a place of their own.
What size is the group of children? When groups are too large, children tend to become distracted. There should not be more than 9 toddlers in a group and not more than 12 preschool-age children in a group.
How do the children relate to the caregiver (and vice versa)? Look around. Are caregivers and children involved with each other, or are the children aimlessly wandering around? It's a good sign when staff members can split their attention and watch their children while they are talking to you.
How should parents facilitate a child's adjustment to a new day care program? Transitional objects such as a lunch box provide continuity by accompanying the child back and forth from home to the day care center. Because some day care centers do not permit children to bring their own toys, a lunch box provides children with something familiar they can claim as their own. Another suggestion that maintains a sense of continuity from home to the day care center is for a parent to take an hour per month, visit the center and bring a snack (prepared at home) for their child. This opportunity lets parents contribute and see how their child is adapting.
How well is the staff trained? Staff should have at least a basic familiarity with child development. Many day care programs cannot afford to pay comfortable salaries, so the staff they attract is often undertrained.
What is the staff turnover rate? Nationally, the annual turnover rate for day care staff is 40 percent, but in some programs, the staffing is stable. You want your child to develop an ongoing relationship with the caregivers, so the turnover rate is an important factor when choosing a day care program.
Is the environment designed with children in mind? Are the surroundings clean and safe? Are toys at a child's eye level, and are there enough toys for everyone? When children feel they have a space of their own, they are more likely to develop positive relationships.
Does the day care program match the family's philosophy and culture? Day care is easier on both parents and children if there is continuity between the program and the family's background and style of child rearing.
Health Hints can be used without obtaining permission, but please credit the San Francisco Foundation for Psychoanalysis for the information. If you would like to interview Dr. Chehrazi, please call Media Consultant, Mary Tressel at 1-800-260-2663.