A child's sense of connection breaks several times daily , as people don't always consider how a situation can frighten a child. When a child doesn't feel connected, their judgment becomes impaired, they become unable to cooperate and they stop enjoying life. One purpose of group therapy for children is to give them a consistent place where they can count on feeling connected. This sense of connection builds self-esteem. When a child is hurting emotionally, they become vulnerable and signal for help in the only way they know how to.
Adults become upset with children for their acting out behavior.
When a child is hurt physically, adults are much more available than when a child is hurting emotionally. Often the child is isolated or punished. Adults sometimes take the child's misbehavior personally and feel as if the child has chosen to make their life harder. The adults get angry. Sometimes a child's misbehavior feels like parental failure.