Oprah’s show this week about the “Little Girl Found Living Like an Animal” reminded us all what devastating effects neglect has on children. 

Even if kids are not severely neglected they suffer if their parents don’t have a relationship with them.

Dr. Bruce Perry www.childtrauma.org is not only the leading authority on child abuse and neglect, but is one of the most down-to-earth psychiatrists I have ever met.  His book, “The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog” is not for the faint of heart, but gives profound insight into how the human brain changes if kids don’t connect with their parents.

There is more neglect in our country than abuse.  Caretakers are responsible for helping children learn how to form and maintain relationships.  Oprah pointed out that if kids spend too much time with ‘things’ like T.V. and computer/video games and not people that is a form of neglect.  

There is optimism about change after neglect.  These adoptive parents are awesome.  Both mother and father gave this child the gift of unconditional love and affection to help this child travel through her trauma to learning about love.  Watching her moving in the family pool to help herself process her emotions and environment was a beautiful sight.  All kids need movement to change their moods and deal with their pains.

Dr. Perry emphasized what I have been sharing with you on my website when he said, “Simple things like eye contact, touch and rocking and humming can make all the difference to a baby.  It makes neurons (the telephone system in the brain) grow, to make connections in the brain.  Those connections make the brain functional. 

So the moral of this story is keep touching, talking and making eye contact with your kids for healthy connections to keep their brains thriving.

The gift of your presence in your child’s life means more than any other ‘thing’ you can ever give them, Dr. Ann  (Check out show at oprah.com)