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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Violent Drawings
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
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Violent Drawings
by RENEE FEW, Feb 28, 2000 12:00AM
After I had grounded my 15 year old son for bringing home a bad report card, I found a picture he drew with me as a devil and a picture of him (I guess) saying I Hate You and shooting the devil person with a gun. This was more than disturbing to me. When I confronted him he started crying and said it was just a drawing and he was really mad and he would never do anything like that. The next day he brought me home roses and apolized. His grades are always good, he attends an all boys Catholic High School and is very involved with school activities and has many friends. This marking period, however, several grades dropped due to a lack of effort according to his teachers. They all told me he is a great kid - but he is not doing his work. I knew he wasn't doing his school work because he had way too much free time - so my husband and I decided to just let it go until we got his report card and handle it then. He is a good kid and I have never had any problem with him - But this picture really upset me.
Should I be worried? And how should I handle the situation?
Should I be worried? And how should I handle the situation?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Feb 28, 2000 12:00AM
, Feb 28, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Ms. Miller,
I don't think you need to worry about the picture. Your son was angry; the picture was an expression of this.
However, it would be good to speak with him in a calm, patient manner about the decline in his work output and grades. See if you can learn what he thinks about the situation (e.g., his reaction to it, why he thinks it is occurring). It may 'simply' be his devoting too much time to the social aspects of his school experience, and he may remedy it quite readily. However, there may be other reasons for the change, and only he can tell you for sure. It would also be useful to learn what the faculty makes of the decline - i.e., why they think he's changed.
I don't think you need to worry about the picture. Your son was angry; the picture was an expression of this.
However, it would be good to speak with him in a calm, patient manner about the decline in his work output and grades. See if you can learn what he thinks about the situation (e.g., his reaction to it, why he thinks it is occurring). It may 'simply' be his devoting too much time to the social aspects of his school experience, and he may remedy it quite readily. However, there may be other reasons for the change, and only he can tell you for sure. It would also be useful to learn what the faculty makes of the decline - i.e., why they think he's changed.
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Sincerely,
Dee