Kids Should Stay Kids

Kids Should Stay Kids

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There are children who have grown up very early. Life and family circumstances converted teenager into an adult with responsibilities. They are called child caregivers. Such children have to take care of disabled brother or parent with a serious illness, because the assistance cannot expect from anywhere. They are by themselves.

It's difficult to say how many child caregivers there are in the United States. The only national survey on the topic estimated that there were at least 1.3 million between the ages of 8 and 18 – most caring for a parent or grandparent, some looking after a sibling. (Wilson J. 2012) These kids are always in the shadow of the global national problems. Thus far they can wait for help only from some volunteers.

However, studies in England have shown that these children need serious psychological help, because they are often exposed to emotional abuse. One definition of emotional abuse is: "any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilization, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth." (Iwaniec D. 2006) Child caregivers are more likely to fall asleep in class and fall behind on assignments. The children are often socially isolated too because they don't have time to hang out or can't bring friends home. (Wilson J. 2012) They are afraid to become recluses in society, but at the same time they cannot afford the same lifestyle as their peers. It’s impossible to close our eyes to the facts that:

• A third (30%) of child caregivers help with medications and 17% help the care recipient communicate with doctors or nurses.
• About half (49%) of the caregivers report that they spend “a lot of time” caregiving.
• According to parents’ reports of their child’s behavior, child caregivers tend to exhibit more anxious or depressive behavior than noncaregivers.
• Children who are caregivers are more likely to have trouble getting along with teachers, to bully or act mean toward others, and to associate with kids who get into trouble.
• This is a markedly understudied area. Much future research is needed. (Hunt G., Levine C., Naiditch L. 2005)

What awaits these children in the future? It is unlikely that they are able to crime and cruelty, because from an early age their main business is to take care of loved ones. Nevertheless, there is a risk of loneliness in adulthood, because they are not well suited for communication and peers community.

What measures should be taken? After all, the problem of these children will not go away by itself. Firstly, we need more research on this topic. Secondly, and this is probably the most important thing now, children caregivers need to be told to everywhere. They need help. First of all, teachers in schools need to know if any of their students are those children, as to them shall be a special approach and understanding of the situation. In other countries have had great success with camp-like programs that give child caregivers a free day, weekend or week. It's not therapy, she says, it's just recreation time so that the kids can be kids. (Wilson J. 2012)