DEAR ABBY: My dear friend "Rose" has a 3-year-old great-granddaughter I'll call "Andrea." I am concerned because the child does not play nicely with her dolls. She chokes them, bashes their heads against the wall and "drowns" them in the bathtub.
Rose and her daughter think it is funny. I think Andrea needs help.
The little girl doesn't get hit or abused herself, but she has an on-again, off-again father who has beaten up her mother on more than one occasion. And there has been a new baby in the house since November. Should I suggest counseling? -- WORRIED IN ST. LOUIS
DEAR WORRIED: Andrea appears to be a very angry little girl who is using her dolls to channel her aggression. She may feel displaced by her new sibling. It might help to suggest to Rose that she and her daughter give Andrea more attention because you are concerned that she might take her resentment out on the baby. If that fails to improve the child's behavior, then point out that a visit with a child psychologist might be in order.