4 year old talks o suicide. What Do I do?

[MaggieMc]

I have a 4 year old student in my class that has been acting out. She climbs on furniture and refuses to get down. She will not follow directions, and instead continues to climb on things or tries to destroy classroom materials. She will not go to time out when told. We have to corner her because she runs from us. I have to physically hold her to protect her from herself. This last for long periods of time, or until some one else comes to hold her. If I let her go she continues to climb on furniture or trie to run away. While I hold her she kicks me and bites me. She refuses to answer any questions or talk what so ever. She is an extremely intelligent child and can be a real joy sometimes, but the minute she you give your attention to another child she lashes out. SHe only stops when we let her be a special helper, but then it turns into reward for bad behavior. Now she asks out to get the reward. So now it is either ignore her and let her be a threat to herself or acknowledge her behavior and have her be a threat to the teachers and al the students.

She has told us that her step dad would beat her, but that he is in jail. We have talked to the mother about all of this. She promises us that the behavior will never happen again or that she is "cured." At school she will tell us that her mom was mad this weekend and she "whooped everybody." I have a feeling that her mother is giving her overly stern punishment. I can tell that she has had some traumatic experiences just by the way she acts in class. Sometimes she shows absolutely no emotion. Her eyes are empty and hardly ever blink. She just runs away and tries to destroy things. Other times she calls everyone stupid idiots, says that she hates everyone and herself. Recently she told me that she was going to kill herself with a knife. When I asked her why, she said that she hates her life. We have had to call someone to pick her up 3 times this week because now she is threatening the other students, and they are afraid to be around her. I have talked to her mother multiple times, but it is clear (atleast it is what I feel) that the punishment she receives at home is the reason she is acting out. If this keeps up she is going to get kicked out of school. What is the best way to help this child?

*Also we are a non for profit school for low income families, so we do not have a lot of resources, and parents aren't always cooperative. In other words, although it is apparent that this child needs therapy, our school and her family do not have the funds nor does the parent think that this is a nessesitiy. Also I have filed multiple reports and have notified the social worker at our school. What I really need to know is what I should do in the meantime while this child is still in my class.

[inis2000]

What on earth are you waiting for. Trust your instincts.You need to report this abuse immediately. The little child was in diapers two years ago and obviusly is in real danger at home. Don't leave it a minute longer. It's time to get involved. Less talk, more action. Have the strength to take it in your hands and protect this baby, cause her mother probably doesn't have the strength to.
Good luck, it can't be easy. I'm sure you're doing a great job.

[margypops]

This child needs your help, go with the gut feeling you have ,she is acting out and the problem seems to stem from home, you are in the position as her teacher to help her, speak to your principle perhaps it can come from her also, reading your post I would say this child needs protection.

[91004]

I would not reward her for bad behavior. But it sounds like she needs to get out of the home. The mother is probally also like you said punishing her to extreme. I would call human services on her. The child obviously needs help. Do you have enough staff to do one on one teaching with her. It sounds like this is what she needs.