1. Dr. Maldonado Menninger Transcultural issues in working with families in the Midwest USA

2. 2 Transcultural/Midwest USA “Euro/American” families in perinatal period “Euro/American” families in perinatal period Majority of families in infant mental health clinic (>80%) Majority of families in infant mental health clinic (>80%) Transcultural issues in caregiving Transcultural issues in caregiving

3. 3 Transcultural Issues. Crying Perception of crying more often as voluntary, child having some control Perception of crying more often as voluntary, child having some control Crying as an undesirable behavior Crying as an undesirable behavior Crying as a “control strategy” by infant Crying as a “control strategy” by infant Crying as “neediness” or excessive dependency Crying as “neediness” or excessive dependency

4. 4 Crying 2 Fear of spoiling the child if response to crying Fear of spoiling the child if response to crying Expectation child should sooth him/herself Expectation child should sooth him/herself Tendency to promote less crying and less “demandigness” Tendency to promote less crying and less “demandigness”

5. 5 Transcultural.Feeding Feeding as a “ scientific issue”, e.g. number of calories, etc. Feeding as a “ scientific issue”, e.g. number of calories, etc. Interest in schedules and in routine Interest in schedules and in routine Feeding the infant not in social context Feeding the infant not in social context Promote self feeding, holding bottle by self, as soon as possible. Promote self feeding, holding bottle by self, as soon as possible.

6. 6 Feeding 2 “balanced diet” and need to eat what is in the plate “balanced diet” and need to eat what is in the plate Eating as an individual activity performed by oneself Eating as an individual activity performed by oneself Appropriate behavior during meals. Appropriate behavior during meals.

7. 7 Transcultural. Sleeping Child sleep in his/her own room from the start Child sleep in his/her own room from the start Parent’s sleep should not be disturbed Parent’s sleep should not be disturbed Child should learn to go back to sleep by him/herself Child should learn to go back to sleep by him/herself

8. 8 Sleep 2 Concern about co-sleeping Concern about co-sleeping Fostering too much dependency Fostering too much dependency Behavioral methods to abolish sleeping difficulty Behavioral methods to abolish sleeping difficulty

9. 9 Transcultural/ Discipline Importance of abolishing undesirable behaviors. Punishment or “natural consequences” Importance of abolishing undesirable behaviors. Punishment or “natural consequences” Learning from one’s mistakes Learning from one’s mistakes

10. 10 Discipline 2 Child making own choices regarding behavior Child making own choices regarding behavior Child learning consequences Child learning consequences Child ready to face “ real world” and its negative consequences Child ready to face “ real world” and its negative consequences

11. 11 Discipline 3 Early use of “distancing techniques” like time-outs, sending to room, etc. Early use of “distancing techniques” like time-outs, sending to room, etc. Withdrawing of attention, interaction Withdrawing of attention, interaction Withdrawing of privileges. Withdrawing of privileges. Negative behavior is followed by negative consequence to extinguish it Negative behavior is followed by negative consequence to extinguish it

12. 12 Transcultural. Verbal interactions Parent verbalizes love for the child Parent verbalizes love for the child Parent interested in child having a positive self-esteem Parent interested in child having a positive self-esteem Parent wants child to be assertive, speak his mind, take care of self. Parent wants child to be assertive, speak his mind, take care of self.

13. 13 Transcultural. Verbalization Use of language to promote self control in the child Use of language to promote self control in the child Use of language/based methods to promote self-control, heeding admonitions, “redirect” behavior. Use of language/based methods to promote self-control, heeding admonitions, “redirect” behavior.

14. 14 Transcultural. Attachment Parent initiates separations during first year of life Parent initiates separations during first year of life Substitute care, by non-relatives, is acceptable Substitute care, by non-relatives, is acceptable Child learns to interact with a variety of new people Child learns to interact with a variety of new people Changes in care-givers in day care Changes in care-givers in day care

15. 15 Attachment 2 Child expected to deal with separations early on Child expected to deal with separations early on Importance of relying on oneself Importance of relying on oneself Learning to deal with changes, mobility, separations early on Learning to deal with changes, mobility, separations early on

16. 16 Attachment 3 Fear that the child might be “ too dependent” Fear that the child might be “ too dependent” Fear the child may be a “wimp” Fear the child may be a “wimp” Learn to stand up by oneself, to be “tough”, and to be strong Learn to stand up by oneself, to be “tough”, and to be strong Suppress neediness and anxiety Suppress neediness and anxiety

17. 17 Transcultural Midwest USA Prepare the child for the future Prepare the child for the future Prepare child to deal with separations Prepare child to deal with separations Prepare child to deal with changes in people around him/her Prepare child to deal with changes in people around him/her High social, geographic mobility High social, geographic mobility

18. 18 Midwest USA Importance of relying on one’s own resources Importance of relying on one’s own resources Importance of overall independence Importance of overall independence Importance of being strong Importance of being strong Need to deal with the real world, and consequences of one’s actions Need to deal with the real world, and consequences of one’s actions

19. 19 Transcultural Midwest USA Promote more “insecure” attachment? Promote more “insecure” attachment? Supress signs (feelings) of neediness, dependency and insecurity? Supress signs (feelings) of neediness, dependency and insecurity? Promote premature “false self-reliance” and sense of independence Promote premature “false self-reliance” and sense of independence

20. 20 Infant Hypersensitive Promote early disappointments? Promote early disappointments? Early sense of loneliness? Early sense of loneliness? Dependency on things (transitional objects) vs. people? Dependency on things (transitional objects) vs. people?