Toddler Profiling, does it work?

[Matt 26z]

So a Kindergarten in the UK is doing a toddler profiling program to predict who'll grow up to live a life of crime.

I've heard about this before, where longtime teachers will claim to be able to tell who'll end up being losers.

Think back to when you were young. Did those who acted the worse turn out to be criminals?

My baddest childhood friend ended up joining a gang years later and got shot dead.

Probably the second worse kid ended up being expelled from HS and now his name is in the paper every so often for crimes.

[machinegunkelly]

its bullshit .

Many of the most badassed kids I knew turned out fine .. after a few years of " being kids "

[nofx]

that sounds like a rape of their rights

thats some bullshit, 'toddler profiling'

what do they do to the child if they suspect the child of having a criminal nature ?

[Matt 26z]

If something like this could be a proven method, maybe those with a criminal nature could be handled differently when they get into trouble.

[bopha]

Michael Jackson uses it all the time... helps him decide which toddlers won't tell on him.

[Huggles]

I think it makes more sense to look at the parents than the kids

[pocketkangaroo]

Thought this was going to be a Michael Jackson thread.

[cyber_ninja]

Michael Jackson uses it all the time... helps him decide which toddlers won't tell on him.

[Odin88]

its bullshit .

Many of the most badassed kids I knew turned out fine .. after a few years of " being kids "

Man it absolutely, positively isn't bullshit. Judging someone based on them being 'bad' during their younger years is most definetly not the only factor. Now if you take in to account whether that person also comes from a low socio-economic background, less than satisfactory parents, single home (lack of a male role model - in the instance of young men particularly), etc etc, they can generate a very very good idea of who are 'at-risk' children. I don't have the studies on hand, but I know lots of studies have concluded this, and their ability to pick those 'at-risk' children is going to get better as time goes on. Studying this stuff, and most importantly doing something about it (i.e. proactive as opposed to reactive measures) is the smartest thing our society could do. If you look at the various crime prevention model studies relating to early intervention the thing that stands out (when something is correctly monitored) is how much money is saved by implementing these programs. If you save one person from going to prison for one year you save $50,000AUD (based on the cost here), now think about putting 50k into early 'at risk' parenting, think about all the other cost factors (i.e. damage, vandalism, less police required, etc etc) that can be taken into account when considering the cost:benefit ratio.

I might add that I am not a fan though of these fluffy courses, that really achieve nothing. But if you get serious with parents who suck, if you help provide role-models for young adolescents (particularly young men) when you know they need them than it definetly saves a shitload of money. Only problem is it takes quite a few years to get that investment back.