Dibs: In Search of Self

by Virginia M. Axline

Observation skills on what has changed since he was last there

that he seemed to use as a defensive shield when something bothered him.

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This was purposely avoided because it seemed important for Dibs, as all children, to learn by experience that no part of his world is static and controllable.

Interesting and note for later

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“Why?”

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“Why?”

“It makes me angry.

Emotional

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“Yes,” he whispered. “I wanted you to do it just for me.”

Interesting

“And you feel angry and disappointed because of it, don’t you?” I asked. Dibs nodded in agreement.

Emotional

but the feeling of security and adequacy that they symbolized in the creation he had built last week. Now, faced with the disappearance of the concrete symbols, I hoped that he could experience within himself confidence and adequacy as he coped now with his disappointment and with the realization that things outside

Note for later

ourselves change — and many times we have little control over those elements, but if we learn to utilize our inner resources, we carry our security around with us.

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He tried fixing the sandbox

Behind it, in a darkened room, sat one or more carefully selected and

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specially trained observers who monitored the tape recorders and who also kept records of timed descriptions of behavior. Later the recordings were transcribed and edited to include the observed behavior of both child and therapist, with the time noted in minute intervals down the side of the reports. This we used for research data, for discussion in our advanced doctoral seminars as a part of the professional training program.

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Interesting

Interesting

“You could go down in the basement and hang around out of the way on the edge of things close enough to watch them and hear what they have to say,” he told me.

Does he do this at home

Ooo 👁

And I was just as sure that Dibs had learned many, many things in that manner, hanging around, out of the way, on the edge of things, close enough to watch people and hear what they had to say.

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Reverting to baby like behavior

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There is nothing here alone!”

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“The school rabbit’s name,” Dibs interrupted to say.

Distinction

something like this one — this toy one.

That is what reminded me of our school rabbit.”

“The caged rabbit,” Dibs corrected.

Sad

sometimes, when nobody is looking, I let it out.”

Dibs may relate to this rabbit

This indicated that Dibs, even though not an active, participating member of the group, was observing, learning, thinking, drawing conclusions as he crawled around on the edge of things.

Interesting

“This is... This is...” He was trying to define the object. “Well,” he announced. “This is a piece of nothing. This is what nothing looks like.” He held it up for me to see. This was an interesting inference — and accurate to a certain degree.

Independence Day, Fourth of July, Thursday, and I will be here!”

Very important development

“Independence Day! And they are all staggered by their joy. These soldiers are unloading freedom and unlocking all the doors!”

Important

anxiety by his loneliness and fear.

He was exchanging his anger and fear and anxiety for hope and confidence and gladness.

His sadness and sense of defeat were...

“It is a joy I would not want to lose,” he replied. “I come with gladness into this room.”

Important

radiating the sense of peace he was feeling now.

“I come with gladness into this room,” he said again. “I leave it with sadness.”

Important

“This makes them unhappy,”

Referencing his parents??

He reached into the sandbox and dug out the soldiers he had buried. He looked at them carefully. He held one out toward me. “This is Papa,” he said, identifying it.

Important

“Yes,” he replied. He stood it on the floor in front of him, shut his fist, knocked it over,

Important

stood it up, knocked it over with his fist. He repeated this several times.

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“That’s right,” Dibs replied. “Even if I don’t want to go home, it will be time to go home.”

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Monday and I go back to school!” he announced. There was a bright, happy gleam in his eyes.

school meant much to him.

We never know how much of what we present to children is accepted by them, each in his own way, and becomes some part of the experiences with which they learn to cope with their worlds.

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