violence

The sad part of domestic violence is that children most often enough feel that they are the blame for the violence and that it is up to them to restore peace to the family. Toddlers on the other hand can show increased illness, severe shyness, decreased self esteem, hitting, biting, and trouble in preschool or day care. School age children also show some of the same effects as toddlers such as increased illness and hitting. It is also very important to tell them they are special and not alone. More often than enough the older child becomes the caregiver for the younger children.

Some of the most violent perpetrators claim to have been abused in early childhood. Boys in particular tend to abuse the women close to them as well as their children. This is not true, as the child can NEVER be the blame for the acts of violence done by adults.

Some of the longer lasting effects would be that a large percentage of children from domestic violence grow up to be abusers themselves. Girls tend to take on more of a victim role in that they tend to attract abusive partners. They also display stealing, lying, nightmares, eating disorders, self-mutilation, reduction in school marks, substance abuse, and the need to be too perfect. Encourage the child to seek out support networks such as friends, teachers, relatives, counselors, or neighbors. hildren go through considerable harm. One of the most important things to tell a child is that domestic violence is NEVER their fault.