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Taylor Greene
Ms. Craig
ENG4U
August 10, 2016
The Importance of Good Influences and a Stable Environment
After reading Lullabies for Little Criminals, by Heather ONeill, and
observing Babys journey through her preteen years, it is clear that good
influences and a nurturing environment are crucial for the positive
development of a child. Many studies have been done on this topic and
arrive at similar conclusions, children need stability, they need to be cared
for, and above all else the need to feel loved. These factors are so important,
that lack of these things in a childs upbringing have been linked to various
diseases, health problems, and even weaker immune systems (Wood).
Additionally, ONeill clearly illustrates the emotional and physical damage
that can be experienced, when these things are lacking. Baby is a prime
example of what happens when a child doesnt have positive role models
and structure in their life.
Children tend to thrive when they live in a stable environment, with
more structured daily routines. They know what to expect, how to act, and
how to feel. They can feel confident that their health and other key needs are
taken care of. When a child feels threatened, or that these needs are not
being met, whether due to repetitive transitions or changes, they begin to

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lose their sense of security. This can affect their grades and their mental
health. A research paper from The Urban Institute stated, Instability is best
conceptualized as the experience of change in individual or family
circumstances where the change is abrupt, involuntary, and/or in a negative
direction, and thus is more likely to have adverse implications for child
development (Sandtrom). The papers focus was on lower income families,
with the promise that instability and major disruptions to a childs life are
most common in those situations. In the report Sandstrom and Huerta
describe instability as a domino effect; stating that a dramatic change in one
aspect of someones life always impacts another area in the persons life. For
example, a parent becomes injured and is unable to work. This means less
income, more stress, possible conflict between them and their spouse, less
money to put towards child care and extracurricular activities for the child,
and so on.
This domino theory applies particularly well to Babys story. Her
parents had her at a very young age, and her mother died shortly after. Her
father, Jules, became addicted to drugs and smoking. He could not keep a
stable job, and therefore he had very little money to provide for himself and
Baby. They were always moving and Jules was never really around to care for
Baby the way a father is supposed to. This resulted in her forming
relationships with dangerous people like Alphonse, the local pimp who
eventually talked her into turning tricks for money at the age of thirteen.
From the day Baby was born she was surrounded by change, nothing was

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ever permanent. Perhaps this is best described in this quote from Baby
herself, I've been all over the place in all kinds of living situations. Due to
the fact that my mind is my own worst enemy. In a way I am perpetually and
permanently in a state of rehabilitation in an attempt to rehabilitate from the
shock of being born (ONeill, page 81). The novel itself only takes place
during two years of her life, and even within two short years Baby is in and
out of foster care, living in a different apartment or hotel room every couple
of months, going to new schools, and meeting new people. It all adds up to a
world that is constantly changing, leaving Baby feeling helpless and
vulnerable; making her fend for herself and robbing her of her childhood.
According to the 2008-2009 State of Our Nations Youth survey by the
Horatio Alger Association, more than 75 percent of America's children say
family members, family friends, teachers, coaches and community leaders
are their role models (Erwin). This finding is supported in Babys case as she
describes Jules as someone she looks up to, yet in actuality, throughout her
life she was surrounded by negative role models, her father included. In fact,
the most influential person in her life was a drug addict; exposing her to
heroin and pot at an young age. When exposed to this type of selfdestructive behaviour on a daily basis it cant help but lead to negative
consequences. Jules drug addiction and his constant neglect towards Baby
caused her to believe she needed to do drugs in order to fit into her fathers
lifestyle, this is evident when Baby said, I was very firm on the idea that I
would become a drug addict too now. I didnt care what drug I was going to

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be addicted too, after her father picked her up from the detention facility
(ONeill, page 72).
Unfortunately, later on in her story this belief, and the need for her
fathers acceptance, drove her to try heroin when Alphonse offers it to her,
although she said she didnt think she did it because of Jules. She even
rationalizes and makes excuses for both of them by stating that they do it
because nobody has given them a reason not to. As a father, Jules should
responsible for teaching Baby that drugs in general are harmful and should
be avoided, but instead he gave her a positive outlook on the drug. This is
evident when she said, I never thought of heroin as a terrible, frightening
thing. I remembered how Jules loved me best when he was stoned. That was
still my main idea about junk somehow. If there was an alphabet book for
little street kids, on the page where it said H is for heroin, there would be a
picture of Jules smiling (ONeill, page 287).
If Baby had been surrounded by positive role models and raised in a
secure living environment, it is easy to say that things would have turned out
a lot differently for her. Jules himself even admitted this when Baby finally
returned to him after months of living with Alphonse, saying, Ive been
doing a lot of thinking since you were gone, this isnt right. You shouldnt
have to run around. You need some stability. This isnt your fault; its mine
(ONeill, page 314). Children look to adults to determine appropriate and
acceptable behavior, as well as to identify models of who they want to be in
the future. No parent wants their child tainted by things like what Baby went

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through, but unfortunately Babys experiences are harsh realities for a
countless amount of children and teenagers. If theyre constantly looking to
someone like Jules, for example, more often than not theyre going to fall
down the same dark path that he did.
Making sure that a child feels secure and loved at home is a necessary
first step, but parents must also look upon themselves and ask if theyre
good role models and setting good examples for their children. There has to
be an element of communication. Children must feel able to feel comfortable
coming to their parents with personal problems or things theyre struggling
with. Rules, boundaries, and routines need to be set in order to prevent
children from thinking theyre allowed to do whatever they want whenever
they want. It is clear, good influences and a stable, nurturing living
environment are essential to the success and development of a child.
Works Cited

Erwin, Caitlin. "Why Are Positive Role Models Important for Children." LIVESTRONG.COM.
LIVESTRONG.COM, 21 June 2015. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
O'Neill, Heather. Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel. New York: Harper Perennial, 2006.
Print.
Sandstrom, Heather, and Sandra Huerta. The Negative Effects of Instability on Child
Development: A Research Synthesis. Rep. no. Discussion Paper 3. The Urban Institute.
N.p.: n.p., 2013. 1-57. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.
Sutherland, Anna. "How Instability Affects Kids | Family Studies." Family Studies How
Instability Affects Kids Comments. N.p., 29 July 2014. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.
Wood, Rachel, Dr. "The Importance of Safe, Stable and Nurturing Environments for Young

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Children." Theolympian. N.p., 11 Apr. 2015. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.

Works Cited

Erwin, Caitlin. "Why Are Positive Role Models Important for Children." LIVESTRONG.COM.
LIVESTRONG.COM, 21 June 2015. Web. 8 Aug. 2016.
O'Neill, Heather. Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel. New York: Harper Perennial, 2006.
Print.
Sandstrom, Heather, and Sandra Huerta. The Negative Effects of Instability on Child
Development: A Research Synthesis. Rep. no. Discussion Paper 3. The Urban Institute.
N.p.: n.p., 2013. 1-57. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.

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Sutherland, Anna. "How Instability Affects Kids | Family Studies." Family Studies How
Instability Affects Kids Comments. N.p., 29 July 2014. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.
Wood, Rachel, Dr. "The Importance of Safe, Stable and Nurturing Environments for Young
Children." Theolympian. N.p., 11 Apr. 2015. Web. 07 Aug. 2016.