Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Youth

This Month is “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” many of us only think about the adults when it comes to domestic violence. Children and youth exposed to domestic violence experience emotional, mental, and social damage that can affect their developmental growth. Some children lose the ability to feel empathy for others. Others feel socially isolated, unable to make friends as easily due to social discomfort or confusion over what is acceptable. Conflict, abuse, and changes in family situations. Recognizing feelings in yourself is a crucial step in understanding how your children may be affected by domestic violence.

You as a parent may have left an abusive relationship or you may still be in one. Children who have lived with domestic violence react in many ways. If you notice changes in your children’s emotions or behavior, they may be telling you that they need some special attention from you, the caring parent. Playing with them is one of the best things you can do to help them feel more secure and connected to you. Playing is an essential part of childhood and a key to healthy development. Sometimes we think of “playing” only with younger children, but even teenagers “play” in the form of activities like sports, watching TV, a game, or just hanging out with you. Children and teenagers learn to build relationships through play. A parent’s attention through play can be especially helpful for kids of all ages who have experienced domestic violence. MAKING THE MOST OF PLAYING Try to spend some time every day playing with your child, without distractions like phone calls. As you play, pay attention not only to the activity at hand but to watching, listening to, and supporting your child’s participation.

What You Can Do Choose activities you can do together

Listen to your kids and let them know you are listening

Praise them for their activities

Let them know you see and like what they’re doing.

Domestic Violence affects everyone in a household especially the children. It is essential that they enjoy and experience their childhood in the most way. Today being young is complicated.

When a parent is in a violent domestic relationship can cause them to lose sight of how their situation is affecting their children because they are doing their best to survive. It is saying it takes a village so if we see something say something, if we know someone needs help, help them. The future of our youth is all our responsibility as adults we must do our utmost to keep them out of harm's way to the best of our ability.

To learn more visit.www.nctsn.org