FollowDomestic Violence and Its Effect on Children
The statistics from the Childhood Domestic Violence Association regarding children that live in homes where domestic violence occurs are alarming. There are 5 million children in the United States each year that are witness to some sort of behavior. Children of homes where domestic violence occurs are 3X more likely to repeat the domestic violence cycle when they are adults. And the statistics go on and on. Here are the effects of children growing up in a home with domestic violence.
The Effect of Domestic Violence on Children
Its Effect on Children– Infants may be young and not seeming to understand, but they can sense when things are not right in the home. They have a way of picking up tension and fear. The end result is that they may not eat or sleep on their regular schedule. Babies may have a problem trusting other people as well.
Its Effect on Toddlers– Toddler aged children are just learning how to speak and communicate. If they are exposed to domestic violence, the fear of the act can affect their speech. Simply put, they can become withdrawn and be fearful of speaking because of the possibility of putting themselves under attack. They could also start having nightmares or have difficulty falling asleep. Some become very clingy to their mother and have a profound fear of outsiders (other people).
Its Effect on Children Ages 3-6– Children who are exposed to domestic violence in their home that are between the ages of 3-6 often blame themselves for what is going on within the family. This age period is known as the inquisitive period. They question everything that is going on around them. They often think that their behavior must have been bad to set off the violent behavior of their parent(s) or caregiver.
In homes where the family unit includes a mother and a father, boy children tend to look to their father as a role model. If the father happens to be abusing the children and/or mother, boys learn that it is okay to hit or hurt others when they are mad.
Young girls in the family tend to look at their mother as a role model. If she is being abused and does not do anything about it to protect herself and kids from this violent behavior, she learns that domestic violence is acceptable and being abused is normal in a relationship.
Its Effect on Kids Ages 7-11– Children that are 7-11 years of age and reside in a home of domestic violence will often take the side of the abuser. They may start to hurt their mother as well as their siblings. They may also try to intervene in the situation by taking sides, thinking this will stop of lessen the violence.
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