Dealing With a Vulnerable Child

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, Today, 17 Mar 2008 edition

 

Dealing With a Vulnerable Child

By Dr James Dobson

 

For the next several days, I want to offer some suggestions

on how to help a child deal with wobbly self-confidence,

which is a very widespread problem.

 

I will be talking especially about the youngster who has some

very obvious physical or emotional liabilities, such as an

unusual appearance, an obvious disability or an embarrassing

learning problem.

 

What can parents do to help these at-risk children preserve

their self-confidence in a cruel and destructive environment?

 

First, every child – but especially the vulnerable youngster –

needs to be taught skills and abilities at a very early stage

so that he or she can draw on these lessons when the heat

is turned up.

 

Whatever seems to fit his or her interests and personality

can be useful if you begin laying the foundation before the

adolescent years.

 

The aim is to give the child something to rely on, something

to feel good about when his or her peers are prowling like

hungry wolves.

 

It is not a cure-all, but it’s a good place to start.