Child Quote by Ved P. Varma
““Although there are areas of overlap between working with psychotic and borderline children and with severely deprived children, some of the stresses involved are different. Deprived children are generally more in touch with reality and able to use language more or less effectively to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Even if they shut you out and are silent and apparently unresponsive, there is often little doubt that there is ‘someone there’ whom you could make contact with should they allow it.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Journal of Child Psychology, “Stress in Working with Deprived and Psychotic Children”, 2018
Deprived children, though silent, often retain a sense of self that can be reached if given space, unlike some psychotic children.
In simple terms: Deprived children may seem silent but can still be contacted.
Key Takeaway
Seek patient, gentle engagement with silent children.
Themes
child development
psychology
communication
trauma
Mood
empathetic
thoughtful
Type
clinical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- educational settings
- parent‑child interactions
- social work
Key Concepts
Attachment theory
language development
emotional regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can practitioners balance patience with progress?
- What signs indicate a child is ready to engage?
A Different Perspective
May overgeneralize differences between groups.
