Abstract:
Violent crimes and domestic violence are notoriously high in
South Africa, which leaves many children defenceless to struggle
with emotions such as loneliness and sadness. The healthy
development and socialisation of children can be difficult in a
society characterised by domestic tribulations, poverty, crime,
single-parent homes, and absent parents. In South Africa, children
often do not co-reside with their biological parents, mainly due to
labour migration and low marital rates. Divorce and long working
hours for parents also contribute to limited family interaction.
Many children are raised by grandparents or older siblings and
relatives, especially in rural areas. Due to these and other factors,
children experience poor parental attachment, loss, sadness and
loneliness, which impact their general well-being. These correlator
factors often contribute to weak outer and inner containment,
which are essential for a young person to develop sustained lawabiding behaviour. Being sad and lonely often prompts issues such
as delinquency, violence, insecurity, insufficient self-control, and
bullying. Reckless’ containment theory shows that these behaviours
often stem from the absence of the inner and outer controls that
are necessary for the development of normative behaviour. Healthy
bonding with and attachment to significant others are also important
to the development of normative behaviour. In this contribution,
the findings from a study conducted in Limpopo, South Africa,
are discussed. The qualitative research study involved asking
373 children, between the ages of eight and nine years, to draw
and narrate what made them sad. The researchers wanted to
determine the specific challenges that young South African children
face. In line with the interpretivist paradigm, it was also important
to determine what these children regarded as sad and challenging
situations, to understand their unique perspectives and life worlds.
The study was therefore guided by the research question: What
challenges do young South African children face in their daily
lives? Findings revealed that exposure to bullying, loss, inadequate
attachment, and crime can cause the development of weak inner
and outer containment, which might lead to future misbehaviour,
poor self-control, incorrigible actions, and bullying behaviour.
