A recent journal article did a study on psychopathology predictors in Kindergartners. They looked at children in the 3rd through 5th grade to see who displayed externalizing behaviors and then looked to see if the same troublesome children had any early warning signs back in Kindergarten. What are “externalizing” behaviors you ask. Good question. It refers to aggression, hyperactivity, defiance, arguing, lying, stealing, etc. Thing you can see on the outside of a person versus inner issues like depression, inattention and learning behaviors.
Like many studies, it doesn’t tell you what to do about it. It just answers the question of “is there a connection or not?” In this case, there was a connection. Children who start school with externalizing behavior problems will have more serious behavior issues later in school grades. An interesting factor here is that children with learning issues, in Kindergarten, had more behavioral problems later too.
The point of this is that if we can identify early warning signs, we can develop interventions to deal with it before children end up with more serious problems. As a side note, I find it curious how society believes these issues are the schools responsibility to correct instead of it being a part of the parents job. Also, why did the child start his school life with problems. What is going on at home? What early interventions/programs can we offer mom and dad as soon as they know they are pregnant? Parenting classes anyone?
Glad to hear your thoughts on this …
