Case Study

Section A: Personal Data

                John Ricti Padernal is little boy who lives at Brgy. 08, Zone 1, District II Caloocan City. August 11, 2004 was his birthday. He is now in Grade 1 at Kasarinlan Elementary School. His parents are Rommel Padernal and Rosalie Padernal but he is living together with his cousin, Jenny Pablico and its wife, Maricel Pablico who served as his foster parents or guardian.

Section B: Joining Process

                I, Loubelle Jacinto like to be one of his second parent and teacher that would slightly teach him some of the good values and characters. And somehow correct his negative behavior. The therapeutic process will take a hard time for me but I’m determined to take the risk because I want to help him to cope up with his environment.

Section C. Presenting Problem

                John Ricti is a jolly person who always smiles and wants to play either alone or together with other children. But because of the different events that had happened to him different unfamiliar behaviors can be noticed and different problems or troubles were encountered by him. And according to the following persons these are the problems that they can observe to John Ricti:

Teacher:

                John Ricti has a short attention span especially in listening in the lesson. He is fun of talking and bullying his classmates. He doesn’t work the different activity given to him and he also do not have any assignment.

Cousin:

                John Ricti has difficulty in following rules and regulations given to him. He will try to follow those rules for a meanwhile but after few days he will forgot it.

Wife of his cousin:

                John Ricti has a difficulty in doing things especially in doing activity in caring his self. He got mad easily especially when he is playing together with other children.

Section D: Psychosocial History

                1. Time Line

                                John Ricti is the fourth child among the five siblings. There is no year gap between him and the third siblings until to the youngest siblings. That’s why a lot of things that a child should experience was not experienced by John Ricti.

               

                3 years old

                                At this age the biological father of John Ricti died in which the only person who worked for all the needs of the family.

                4 years old

                                He already experienced a miserable life since his mother has no work and cannot support their basic needs and education.

                5 years old

                                His mother decided to give them to her different relatives and marry other man. At that time the five siblings were separated to each other. John Ricti was given to his aunt but since his aunt also experiencing financial problem he was turned over to his grandmother.

                6 years old

                                For one year since his mother left them, John Ricti leave to his different relatives that let him to have a hard time in adjusting to the different events in his life. Until his cousin decided to get him and now he is staying in its house together its wife who served as his foster parents or guardian.

The different events from the age of 3 until now have a big relevance on explaining why John Ricti is showing unfamiliar behavior.

                2. Genogram

               Fig. 1. Shows that John Ricti has a good relationship towards his family except to his mother. 

                3. Sociograph

                                At home

                   

                    Fig. 2. Shows that the present family of John Ricti have a harmonious relationship to each other.       

                                In School

                     Fig. 3. Shows that there is a healthy relationship between the his classmate and John Ricti even though they dislike some of them but still they consider each other as friend based on the interview done to them.

               4. Self Mastery

                                John Ricti knows that he is capable of doing households chores. He also knows that he is doing well in Mathematics especially in Addition. He also said that he is good in playing basketball and other sports.

                5. Relationship to Others

                                According to him he has a good relationship to his siblings but he felt awkwardness toward his mother. And until now he really loves his father even though it’s already dead. In their home, he really love and appreciated the effort that his foster parents is doing but sometimes he has the difficulty in adjusting to his new environment especially in adjusting to his new scholl and classmate.

                6. Action

                                Positive

                                John Ricti can do household chores properly and can do task assigned to him properly. He can also play station well. He has the initiative in doing chores especially in cutting the ingredients during cooking

                                Negative

                                He has difficulty in cleaning and grooming his self. He has poor study habit and his writings cannot be deciphered easily. He is also clumsy in handling things.

Section E: Theoretical Framework

                Lev Vygotsky proposed that a social interaction plays a very important role in cognitive development. He believes that individual development could not be understood without looking into social and cultural context within which development happens. He recognizes that social interaction and language are the two central factors in cognitive development. His theory is known as the Socio-cultural Theory of Development.

                Vygotsky emphasized that effective learning happens through participation in social activities, making social context of learning crucial. Parents, teachers and other adults in the learners’ environment all contribute to the process. And language opens the doors for learners to acquire knowledge that other already have. It helps the learner to regulate and reflect on his own thinking. And according to him “talking-to-oneself” is an indication of the thinking that goes on in the mind of the child that would lead the child to private speech. Private speech is a form of self talk that guides the child’s thinking and action.

                Vygotsky also emphasized the zone of actual development in which the child try to perform a skill alone in which she or he may not be immediately proficient. However, with the guidance of a competent adult or a more advanced peer, the child can perform at a higher level competency. And the difference between what a child can accomplish alone and what can she or he accomplish with the guidance of another is called zone of proximal development. And the supports or assistance that lets te child accomplish a task she or he cannot accomplish independently is called as scaffolding. The scaffold is done to bridge the gap between the learners’ current skill levels and the desired skill levels. And as the learners become more proficient and able to complete tasks on their own that they could not initially do without assistance, the guidance can be withdrawn and this is called as scaffold and fade-away technique. Scaffolding, when done appropriately can make a learner confident and eventually he can accomplish the task independently without any need for assistance.

Section F: Prognosis

                As I observed John Ricti different things come into my mind and I’ve realized that maybe John Ricti has a difficulty in coping with the new environment he has and in the different events that had happened to him. And may be John Ricti have a behavioral and emotional problem. He is also experiencing a difficulty in making friends to his new classmates.

Section G: Therapeutic Plans

                1. Knowledge Building

                                Teach him to work his assignment independently.

                2. Skill Building

                                Teach him to take care and clean himself.

                3. Attitudes Building

                                Teach him to have patience.

Section H: Specific Detailed of Therapeutic Interaction

Objectives	Activities	Schedule
1. Teach him to work his assignment independently	Assist him in doing his assignment	Tuesday-Wednesday: 2PM – 3PM Friday: 5PM – 6PM
2. Teach him to take care and clean himself	Teach him to take care himself with the help of his foster mother	Saturday: 9AM – 10AM
3. Teach him to have patience	Let him play together with his 3 year old niece	Sunday: 3PM – 4PM

Section I: Therapeutic Progress

Activities	Schedule	Progress
Assist him in doing his assignment	Tuesday-Wednesday: 2PM – 3PM Friday: 5PM – 6PM	John Ricti improves his study habit and he started to have an initiative in trying to answer his assignment.
Teach him to take care himself with the help of his foster mother	Saturday: 9AM – 10AM	John Ricti has already learned to take a bath properly and he also cuts his fingernails properly. He also cleans his teeth initiatively.
Let him play together with his 3 year old niece	Sunday: 3PM – 4PM	Jhn Ricti could already control his temper. He started to learn how to talk with his niece calmly

Section J: Therapeutic Results

                Based on the progress that can be seen to John Ricti, he has already learned to have a good study habit. And he also performed in the class actively; in fact he joined their field demonstration in their school. He also learned to have a proper self care to his self. He also develops the initiative in doing his assignment. He could already control his temper. His attitude of shouting when he is irritated was lessen. He could already play together with his niece without letting her cry.

Section K: Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation

                Summary

                                John Ricti is experiencing a difficulty in coping up with his environment which let him to show some unfamiliar behaviors. Specifically he has a difficulty in paying attention, following rules and regulation and taking care of his self. This problem that can be seen to him served as the basis of the therapeutic process that has given to him. And this therapeutic process deals with the 3 aspect of his life; these are knowledge, skill and attitude.

                Conclusion

                                Based on the different results that have been formulated the following conclusions have been created:

1.      The skill of John Ricti in caring his self has been neglected for several years because of having no permanent home.

2.     He is not experiencing a cognitive delayed but he has a difficulty in coping up with his new environment.

3.      John Ricti could easily learn things when he will be assisted by an adult.

                Recommendation

                                Based on the different conclusion the following recommendation were suggested:

1.      Adults especially his foster parents should continue in assisting John Ricti in doing some activity.

2.     John Ricti should undergo tutorial so that he could cope up with the lessons in school.

3.      Atmosphere inside the class should be modified to let John Ricti feel he is welcome.

4.      Teachers should help him in adjusting in his new school and in making friends to his new classmates.

Section L: Implications to Education Assessment of Young Children

                Based on the different findings the following implication was created:

1.      Family Background or events of child have a great effect to the child and served as a basis in assessment of young children

2.     Environment and people around the child has a great effect on the behavioral, emotional and cognitive development.

3.     Assistance to the child is a great help for him to acquire knowledge and to know basic skills.

               

                               

Learning Questions

Questions:
1. What are the different characteristics family therapist should possess?
2. Why is it that a family therapist should also undergo the therapy he gave together with the family?
3. How does the different personal attributes of a family therapist help her/him to solve the family problem that she/he is handling?
4. How can we say that a family therapist possess a therapist flexibility?
5. How does the family therapist could used different positive traits of the family in giving solution to the family problem?

Common Problem in Early Childhood

Problem: How to stop children tantrums?
Solution:

1.  Many so-called "discipline methods" are actually cleverly disguised forms of punishments and rewards that can cause your child to suffer the lifelong consequences of having a lower sense of self-confidence... yet the parenting marketing industry continues to lie to you so they can maximize their profits by selling you watered-down versions of lashing kids with belts.
2.  Disciplining methods such as rewards, consequences, and manipulation are actually the LEAST effective method of getting your child to listen and cooperate. We'll explore what types of methods REALLY work in a minute.
3.  Sitting your child down for a painful "talking to" or forcing your child to take "responsibility" are NOT the best way to stop misbehavior and unleash the genius inside your child... I'll tell you the exact types of unique child discipline that produce 10x better results below.
4.  You DON'T need to waste your money on expensive child psychiatrists or doctors who push expensive pharmaceutical drugs to help control your child's behavior. These drugs can have serious consequences and they never address the real problem that causes the misbehavior.  I'll show you how to use the power of child brain science in more detail below.

Problem: The child has no friends
Solution:
 

IF YOU WANT TO ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIPS, START YOUNG AND START SMALL

Get together on a regular basis with another mother and baby so your child can get used to playing next to another child.

In nursery school, encourage the teacher to suggest to children to play together. Take the initiative to set up play dates after school with children your child likes. Set up dates with other mothers to take your children to the museum, the library for story hour, the community center or for activities like gymnastics, music or swimming. Above all, be patient and understanding. Encourage, but don't push. Some of us take longer to make friends than others.

If you feel that you have tried many avenues and the child still doesn’t or can't make friends, or if he seems too introverted or too sad-looking, it may be time to seek professional help. If some trauma or crisis has occurred, like the birth of a new sibling, a move to a new home, or the prolonged absence of a parent, your child may become clingy or want to stay home. Be patient and supportive.

Most important, just be there for your child. He needs friends, but at this age, he needs you more!

Problem: The child witnessed the intercourse of the parent

Solution:

The issue here is not so much what he saw but how he understood it. He needs to be asked: What woke him up and why did he come into your room? What did he see? How did he feel about it? On the basis of what he says, you can respond in kind.
He needs to know that grown-ups who love one another express their feelings in different ways, including physical affection, like when mom and dad kiss or hug during the day. When parents are alone in their room, being naked and touching each other is another way of showing love. "You too will do that when you're a grown-up." To prevent this in the future, the door to your bedroom should be shut and locked when you're making love.
The children should also be taught to respect your privacy and not bother you when the door to the bedroom is closed. 

Problem: The child don't want to doschoolworks
Solution:
You may wish to speak with your child's teacher and tell her that your daughter may not be ready yet for formal assignments. Speak to the parents of other children in her class. You might discover that the assignments are hard for other children. If so, perhaps a group of parents can speak to the teacher and mention that the work seems a bit hard for the children.
Perhaps your daughter is not developmentally ready for an academic program, but next year, after another year of maturation, she will do well in academic studies.
Do not be concerned that your daughter will be left back because of not completing assignments. Occasionally, there is good reason for a child to repeat kindergarten, but at age six, any decisions about academic placement should not be related to school assignments. 

Problem: The older siblings feel jealous to the younger one
Solution:
you make sure that each of your children has some toys or belongings that he or she can call their own. When children have siblings so close in age, it is normal for parents to expect them to share. All children, however, need some items that they can call their own.
This does not mean that you should not encourage your children to share. Rather, every child needs some items that belong to him and that he can choose to share or not.
If your children fight over a certain object, quickly take out a timer and set it for say, five minutes. Give the item to one child (I usually try to give it to the child that had it first although that is not always obvious) and say, "Now it is your turn. When you hear the bell, your turn is over." 
Remind your daughter that she can always play with "her toys" and if your son is upset when you give an item he wants to your daughter, try and distract him quickly with some of his favorite toys. At his age, out of sight is usually out of mind, so if he doesn't calm down when you give him a different toy, suggest that your daughter play with the toy he wants in another room.
Keep in mind that despite your best efforts; there will still be times that your children will fight over their belongings. This reaction is a normal part of early childhood. By implementing the suggestions above, however, you can help your children to understand earlier, rather than later, the concepts of personal belongings and the necessity of sharing.
    
 

FAMILY

1. What is the importance of undergoing a family therapy?
2. In what way does a teacher become a family therapist?
3. When will be the time that a family therapist should intervene in the family problem?
4. Why is it necessary for a teacher to study family therapy?
5. How does family therapy become a beneficial way to solve family problem? 

"HOPEFUL THOUGTHS"

1. Hopeful Experiences

            All of us wants to be successful someday or fulfill all our goals and aspiration in life. This is one of the things that I hope that will happen in my life. I hope that one of these days I could already help my family financially and I could already be called as real and certified teacher. But I need to cross a lot of mountains, sacrifice so many things especially to be far from my family, and experience a lot of hardships and obstacles to make this goals and aspirations to be fulfilled.

2. Hindrances

•  Financial problem - our family is not financially stable that makes my mother to decide to send me in Manila and ask some help from my cousin.
• Education - me and my eldest brother are both in college level that makes it so hard for my parents to sustain not only our basic needs but also our educational needs
• Source of Income - it is hard for our family since we don't have a stable source of income and the four of us are still studying.

3. What do you think will help you to erase those hindrances?
             Hindrances in our way are normal and it is a part of our life. For me, these hindrances will be eliminated in my way when I will consider them as my inspirations to face every new day that will come into my life. This is the reason why I'm still standing firm and strong behind those emotional and financial problem that I experience. In God's will this hindrances will be vanish and a brand a new day will come in my way. This hopeful thoughts I have will be my inspiration and will serve as my reminder to myself that I have a lot of things to do and dreams to fullfill.