The pandemic has taken a toll on children in many ways. Mental health experts warn that the pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in mental health problems, abuse, and neglect in children all over the world. Children have gone through many big changes including experiencing isolation or loss this year. Many are experiencing anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts at greater rates because of being home constantly. For others, being at home also means being in close contact with their abuser (parent or caretaker). Many reports indicate that the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted several systemic safety nets for children, leaving them open to abuse. Child abuse reports, investigations, substantiated allegations and interventions have dropped which means many children are trapped at home without anyone to help them. Diaspora children are also at risk during this period but often their stories go unheard due to a culture of silence surrounding this topic. SACU (501c3) discussed, this important topic and related issues during our town hall.
EVENT DETAILS
Wednesday, May 26th, 2021
Time: 6:00 – 8:00P
(past event)
TOPICS
Challenges Of Raising Kids in America || Child Abuse or Discipline ? || How Parenting Styles Affect a Child’s Mental Health || Understanding Child Psychology|| When To Seek Child Therapy || Q & A
GUEST SPEAKERS
Will Jawando, Councilmember for Montgomery County
Dr. Ruvi Tsokodayi English , Child Development Psychologist
Rebotile Dikolomela, Kindergarten Teacher
Guest Moderator – Eric Rasch
TOPIC SUMMARY
Challenges of Raising Kids in America – Will Jawando
Many mainstream parenting discussions do not focus on the unique cultural norms that have been passed on from generation to generation, from different countries that form the melting pot that America is intended to be. This topic will explore and address the different ways that raising children in America can be for families that have migrated to the U.S. Parents from different cultures and backgrounds face many child rearing challenges that conflict with American cultural expectations that make it challenging to raise kids in America.
Oftentimes, families that have migrated to the U.S. form different family structures – oftentimes, living as extended families (with aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, or grandparents), or blended families with family members from two or more different countries and therefore different parenting styles. At times, cultural norms such as teaching children humility, ‘not talk back’ or to be ‘seen but not heard’ can conflict with cultural norms encouraging them to be expressive and show confidence. Also, moving from community based “it-takes-a-village-to-raise-a-child” approaches to individual family-based approaches involving nuclear families balancing monies, work, school, play dates, parental involvement, friendships, after-school activities, cultural influences, or even laws can be challenging.
This will include a discussion on how some of these factors may contribute or inform a related incident (shown be;ow) which happened in Montgomery County, Maryland this year. Police officers were called to a school to discipline the 5 year old boy of an immigrant parent whose mother later told the police “”I spank him. But I can’t discipline him how I want to discipline him because of this. I’m not losing my child to the system and I’m not going to prison”. We will discuss this and the many challenges faced by parents from Africa and countries that are often overlooked.
Child Abuse or Discipline ? – Dr. Ruvi Tsokodayi English
Federal and State laws define what constitutes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect and therefore parents have to consider laws that place limitations on how to discipline a child. However, what is considered acceptable in one’s country of ancestry may not be considered acceptable in America or even in your state. This topic will explore and address the thin line between child abuse and discipline in light of different cultural norms, traditions and beliefs which may clash with the federal and state laws in America.
Overall, this topic will guide parents to help them identify whether their actions are harmless discipline measures or may cross the line and constitute child abuse. We will also help people identify characteristics of abusive adults and abused children. We will address cultural norms, family structures, and other factors that may influence discipline styles and identify alternative discipline techniques that are well suited for African parents.
How Parenting Styles Affect A Child’s Mental Health – Rebotile Dikolomela
Research shows that Parenting style have been found to predict a child’s well-being in key domains such as academic performance, social competence and interactions, psycho-social development, personal and professional problem behavior, including criminal behavior. Parenting is not easy and often times, parents with ineffective parenting styles can set their children up for failure if they do not take the time to evaluate their parenting style.
This topic will address the various parenting styles and their potential effect on children’s mental health. The topic will also look at how a parent’s mental health can affect their child’s mental health and impede their healthy development into adulthood, with a focus on Cluster B personality Disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Antisocial Personality Disorder and Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Understanding Child Psychology – Dr. Ruvi Tsokodayi English
It is not easy for children to explain what they’re going through mentally and emotionally and cannot fully articulate their feelings. The pandemic has affected the mental health of children worldwide. This is coupled with factors such as their nurturing environment, genetic, and cultural factors can affect their development positively or negatively. Child psychology can help give parents important and valuable information and tools that they can use to usher their children in the right direction, as they progress from birth to adulthood. Child psychology is an important topic that will explore and address what parents can do to ensure that their children are being given a fair chance at life in spite of the hurdles the pandemic brings.
When To Seek Child Therapy – Dr. Ruvi Tsokodayi English
Sometimes it is difficult to decide to get your child the mental and emotional help that they might desperately need. Many parents find themselves waiting for their children to eventually grow out of it. Particularly, parents coming from countries where consulting mental health experts is stigmatized and not normalized behavior. However, it is crucial to pay attention to our children and know when to get them the help they need as they develop into healthy functioning adults. Working parents often have to consider several factors such as time, costs, medical insurance, stigma, or whether indeed they should just let their child ‘grow out of it’. However, when children have emotional or behavioral challenges, the earlier they get treatment, the easier it is to help them. This topic will help to navigate this difficult decision and help you decide when it is necessary to get therapy for your child.