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Recognize
the Signs
 Research
and clinical experience indicate that children who are exposed
to violence are affected by the event. Many children will
develop signs of psychological distress and can be affected
in all arenas of development: emotional, social, and cognitive.
Being aware of the symptoms and the developmental impact is
a step towards advocacy and advancement in the treatment of
children exposed to violence.
It is
important to help families understand the symptoms of a child's
exposure to violence since it is not always easy to make the
connection between a child's changed behavior and the impact
of the events on the child. After all, parents who are victims
of domestic violence or parents who have children who have
witnessed community violence want to know, just as much as
any other parent, that their child is going to be okay. One
way to help parents gain this understanding is through a careful
and sensitive review of these symptoms. Parents should be
told about the impact of witnessing violence on children and
reassured that their child's symptoms are a normal and common
reaction. They may also need help in explaining the events
to the child.
When professionals
understand the symptoms associated with children's exposure
to violence, they can mediate the consequences by becoming
aware of these effects and intervening to provide a safe environment.
Understanding
and recognizing the symptoms and developmental impact can
also be important for legal advocates and policy analysts
in designing programs and developing public policy.
In the
same way that understanding symptoms helps professionals to
treat and advocate for children, an understanding of how children's
development may be impacted also influences practice. The
healthy development of children depends significantly on their
ability to explore the world in the context of nurturing relationships
and a safe environment. When children and adolescents feel
unsafe, learn that intimidation or violence is an integral
part of intimate relationships, or take on responsibilities
for which they are not ready, there is a negative impact on
their development. Child advocates, parents, pediatricians,
and others can work together as a team to understand the ways
in which a child's development has been impacted. Allowing
the child to take a "developmental step" backwards,
giving the child time to recover or "relearn" those
important developmental tasks, and supporting the child as
she/he continues growing and learning are all vital contributions
that families and professionals can make to the lives of children
exposed to violence.
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