h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As an American I believe that you should train the little yard apes early. Give them a gun when they are 3 or so and teach them how to use it. A properly trained killer doesn't need to worry about behavioral problems. Just pop a cap in the ass of whoever is complaining and you're all set. It's a crying shame that they have started to put metal detectors in schools. The only weapon my little commando can sneak into class is a ceramic hunting knife. Fine for close up work, but it's tough to take on a teacher unless you can get behind them and slash the achilles tendon.

OK, I really believe that the whole community is responsible for a child's actions. Everyone a child meets has an impact on their lives from the obvious family members to the local cop who patrols the neighborhood. Research at the University of Washington in Seattle has shown that there are proven predictors of asocial behavior in youth. The research has been going on for the last twenty years or so and risk factors have been recognized in four different domains. These include Family, Community, School and Peer Groups. Protection from these risks is created by bonding the child in a positive way with these domains. This bonding is accomplished through providing the child with skills, opportunities and recognition of success and failure. If anyone is interested in this research I would be happy to provide some URLs that are chock full of information.

I'm interested. Do any of them say anything about developmental stages?

They talk about developmentally appropriate programs and curriculum, but the basic research is done across a range of ages. Here is the URL of the original researchers http://www.depts.washington.edu/sdrg/ . I hope you find what you need.

Thanks, Scott. I'll have a look when I get back from work.