Justin is an eight-year-old Vietnamese boy who was adopted by his Caucasian parents when he was only three months old. His two older siblings had been born into the family before he was chosen. The sib-lings are both boys, much larger than Justin, and both involved in school sports. Justin wants to follow in their footsteps but fi nds it diffi cult to match their success. In his after-school program, Justin loves to paint and creates some beautiful watercolor paintings that his caregiver dis-plays on the bulletin board. However, Justin still longs to join in when the other children are playing baseball. He is usually the last one to be chosen for a team and is booed or called names when he strikes out. When this happens, he goes back to the bench and appears to be struggling to keep from crying. He doesn’t cry, but is reluctant to try again when it is his turn at bat.
1. What do you think are the causes of Justin’s lack of confi dence in his own abilities? What are some things his caregiver can do to help him feel better about himself?
2. Are there ways his family can help?
3. What group games could caregivers facilitate that would encour-age teamwork and ultimately help Justin feel a valued part of the team
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