The Other 23 Hours

Among other revolutionary developments of today's world is tie so-called "knowledge explosion." So much is being written so fast about so many things that it is becoming well nigh ir­retrievable. One consequently can never be sure that he knows what there is to know about many kinds of phenomena or types of problems existing in the modern world due to the chance that something exists in written form that simply cannot be found, so bulky is the load of literature.

The common idea that only the sick child, and never the well, needs special emotional supports and helps from the adult is simply an error. For the well child is not immune from pile-ups of severe emotional intensity when overwhelmed by confusion and conflicts from within.

Certainly, the normal kid can be ex­pected to handle such crises either from within or without better than his sick peer on the average, but that does not mean always; and the critical issue for the well child is: is he ready at the time they hit? If not, he needs, quite unmistakably, emotional first aid from the adult—parent, teacher, camp counselor (or what have you)—who is in charge of his life at that moment. The reader will find that what the authors describe in The Other 23 Hours as the everyday requirement diet, as far as child handling is concerned for their disturbed children, is transferable to the normal crises of normal child­hood.

Among other revolutionary developments of today's world is the so-called "knowledge explosion." So much is being written so fast about so many things that it is becoming well nigh irretrievable. One consequently can never be sure that he knows what there is to know about many kinds of phenomena or types of problems existing in the modern world due to the chance that something exists in written form that simply cannot be found, so bulky is the load of literature.
The common idea that only the sick child, and never the well, needs special emotional support and help from the adult is simply an error. For the well child is not immune from pile-ups of severe emotional intensity when overwhelmed by confusion and conflicts from within.
Certainly the normal kid can be expected to handle such crises either from within of without better than his sick peer on the average, but that does not mean always; and the critical issue for the well child is: is he ready at the time they hit? If not, he needs, quite unmistakably, emotional first aid from the adult-parent, teacher, camp counselor (or what have you)-who is in charge of his life at that moment. The reader will find that what the authors describe in The Other 23 Hours as the everyday requirement diet, as far as child handling is concerned for their disturbed children, is transferable to the normal crises of normal childhood.

Larry K. Brendtro is professor at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he directs the Black Hills Seminars, a training institute for professionals serving troubled youth. He is former president of the Starr Commonwealth in Michigan and Ohio.

James K. Whittaker is Charles O. Cressey Endowed Professor Emeritus in the School of Social Work, University of Washington. He is a frequent consultant on child care training both in the Seattle area and nationally and is a consultant on research and training to the Child Development and Mental Retardation Center, University of Washington. He has served as director of the Social Welfare Program. He is also a founding member of the International Association for Outcome-Based Evaluation & Research on Family and Children’s Services.