Sheltered Children’s Psychological Suffering and Carers’ Lack of Training: Observations from a Brazilian Sheltered Home

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate issues present in sheltered institutions for children. Main points are related to the reality of sheltering, as well as discussions on the role of carers and their lack of expertise concerning psychological development of sheltered children. Five 2-hour weekly observations were conducted and 21 3-to-17-year-old children were observed, as well as their carers. Results pointed to carers’ lack of expertise, depriving children of playing and exploring the environment, incapacity of establishing a dialogue with the children, inability to deal with disabled children, exposing children to peers, as well as absence of any sort of affection towards the children. Stemming from the carers’ lack of expertise, it is important to reflect on training and support to institutions in the sense that they should not be forced to resort to untrained carers who might jeopardize the sheltered children’s affective and social development.