Children in Crisis: Support for Teachers and Parents

Jane Heath is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

This book draws on the author’s experience as a teacher, parent,
librarian, and guidance counselor to provide direction and support for
those working in today’s classrooms. Guidelines for recognizing and
interpreting signs of stress, depression, and concealed anger in
children are provided, along with appropriate responses (effective
listening, referral to sources of help, linking up with community
resources). Issues ranging from incest, abuse, alcoholism in parents,
and parental illness to poverty, racism, and sexism are poignantly
evoked.

Each topic is discussed in a practical and well-documented fashion.
Recent research in each area is mentioned; questions of prevalence,
warning signs, and probable outcomes for the children are presented. A
potentially very useful feature is the inclusion, at the end of each
topic, of a list of current resource materials for parents, teachers,
and children; these range from hotline numbers and current research
articles to videocassettes and books.

The author also addresses more general themes such as effective
listening, helping children deal with anger, and the importance of
augmenting children’s self-esteem. Newman’s treatment of these
issues, though sensitive, thoughtful, and practical, is less firmly
grounded in research than her treatment of the issues cited above. The
discussion of self-esteem, for example, fails to mention Carol Dweck’s
work on “learned helplessness.”

Notwithstanding this, Children in Crisis is a valuable source of
insight, practical suggestions, and media resources for children,
teachers, and parents. Highly recommended for all adults who work with
children.