XN000022-1981-07-18 — Page 3

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 1981

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CHILDREN NEED LOVE, SAYS CHILD EXPERT

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A GOVERNMENT CHILD CARE EXPERT TODAY URGED PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN RATHER THAN JUST THE IR PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.

DR LILLIAN KO, CONSULTANT PAEDIATRICIAN OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN IN HONG KONG IS COMPARABLE TO ANY ADVANCED COUNTRY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE SHARP DECLINE IN THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE AND THE CONTROL OF ACUTE DISEASES.

HOWEVER, THE REVOLUTION BROUGHT ABOUT IN CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL HEALTH IN THE PAST 40 YEARS HAS NOT BEEN MATCHED BY A SIMILAR CHANGE IN THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING, SHE SAID.

+THE COMMUNITY IS ALARMED TO FIND AN ASTONISHING RISE IN YOUTH CRIME AND SUICIDES, CHILD ABUSE AND PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS,+ SHE SAID.

DR KO WAS SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE LING LEUNG TONG CHURCH KINDERGARTEN THIS AFTERNOON.

SHE SAID THAT FOR MANY PARENTS IN OUR SOCIETY, CHILD REARING IS A PROCESS OF BASICALLY CARING FOR THE PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND ENSURING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND ULTIMATELY SOCIAL STATUS IN SOCIETY.

THERE ARE PARENTS AND TEACHERS WHO SIMPLY IGNORE OR ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT SMALL CHILDREN ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF FEELINGS AND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES SIMILAR TO ADULTS, SAID DR KO.

+ IN THE MIDST OF SCHOOL BOOKS AND VITAMIN PILLS, THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND LEFT UNFULFILLED, SHE SAID.

DR KO TOLD PARENTS AND TEACHERS THAT THERE ARE FOUR BASIC EMOTIONAL NEEDS WHICH HAVE TO BE MET FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF LIFE TO ENABLE A CHILD TO GO FROM HELPLESS INFANCY TO MATURË ADULTHOOD.

THESE ARE THE NEED FOR LOVE AND SECURITY= FOR NEW EXPERIENCES FOR PRAISE AND RECOGNITION, AND FOR RESPONSIBILITY.

DR KO SAID THE NEED FOR LOVE AND SECURITY IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR ALL LATER RELATIONSHIPS.

+ON IT DEPEND THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONALITY, THE ABILITY TO CARE AND RESPONSE TO AFFECTION, AND IN TIME TO BECOMING A LOVING, CARING PARENT.

/+IF ONE