The Impact on Child Neglect on Self- Esteem Essay Example
Running Head: CHILD NEGLECT AND SELF-ESTEEM
The Impact on child neglect and self-esteem
Jill Rasmussen, MSW, LCSW
SOWK 317 Social Work Methods: Generalist Practice with Children and Families
When a person thinks about child neglect, the first thing that may come to mind is a child not being taken care of physically. In fact that is what child neglect is about. “Children are neglected when they are deprived of minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and nurturing” (Dubowitz, 1999, p. 91). We can safely say that a child is neglected when these basic needs are not met. Children are being ignored every day; they are being deprived of clothes, food, love, affection, and even of an education. The lack of parental love and the effects of child neglect alters the way a person views themselves. The way a parent treats their child determines a child’s future. The lack of love and affection on behalf of the parent or guardian leads to poor self-esteem of the child. According to Craig & Baucum, “the nature of child neglect is horrifying, whether it takes blatant physical forms such as violent punishment or sexual abuse or subtler psychological forms such as ridicule and direct attacks on the child’s self- concept” (Craig & Baucum, 2002, p. 217). “Child neglect represents over 50% of child protective services reports” (Horton & Cruise, 2001, p. 143). The way a parent treats their child has a lot to do with their view of themselves, meaning that the children self-esteem is affected. When a child is first born and is not able to verbally communicate, they feel attached to a person through the sense of touch. They need love and affection from their parents or guardians, that’s how it all starts. Once they receive that love, they feed off of it and they then know how special and important they are in their parent’s life. Even if it is not verbally, they still need to feel that special touch and be held, that is how we show
The Impact on child neglect and self-esteem
Jill Rasmussen, MSW, LCSW
SOWK 317 Social Work Methods: Generalist Practice with Children and Families
When a person thinks about child neglect, the first thing that may come to mind is a child not being taken care of physically. In fact that is what child neglect is about. “Children are neglected when they are deprived of minimally adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical care, and nurturing” (Dubowitz, 1999, p. 91). We can safely say that a child is neglected when these basic needs are not met. Children are being ignored every day; they are being deprived of clothes, food, love, affection, and even of an education. The lack of parental love and the effects of child neglect alters the way a person views themselves. The way a parent treats their child determines a child’s future. The lack of love and affection on behalf of the parent or guardian leads to poor self-esteem of the child. According to Craig & Baucum, “the nature of child neglect is horrifying, whether it takes blatant physical forms such as violent punishment or sexual abuse or subtler psychological forms such as ridicule and direct attacks on the child’s self- concept” (Craig & Baucum, 2002, p. 217). “Child neglect represents over 50% of child protective services reports” (Horton & Cruise, 2001, p. 143). The way a parent treats their child has a lot to do with their view of themselves, meaning that the children self-esteem is affected. When a child is first born and is not able to verbally communicate, they feel attached to a person through the sense of touch. They need love and affection from their parents or guardians, that’s how it all starts. Once they receive that love, they feed off of it and they then know how special and important they are in their parent’s life. Even if it is not verbally, they still need to feel that special touch and be held, that is how we show