Session 3

Session 3: Child Abuse, Family Violence, and Community Resources

 

Inquiry 4: Effects of Family Violence on Young Children

 

Why Do You Need to Know?

 

Research tells us that about 8 percent of Canadian children between the ages of four and seven have been exposed to violence in their homes (National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, 1998–1999). Exposure to violence is considered to be emotional abuse and can have long-lasting effects on children.

 

Children in homes where there is domestic violence live in a stressful environment created by regular violent incidents and the fear of the next violent incident. They lack the safety and consistency of care that are so important to children. The fear and helplessness that they feel puts them at risk for difficulties, such as aggressiveness, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and poor school performance. Individuals who care for and teach young children are in an ideal position to support children who are at risk because of domestic violence.

 

• Children under age five are more likely to live in a household where domestic violence occurs than are children in any other age category.
  
  
• Children living with domestic violence are at risk for increased emotional and behavioural problems.
  
  
• Early identification of difficulties can lead to earlier and more effective support and intervention for children and their families.
  
  
• Early childhood programs can be a secure and nurturing place for vulnerable children. The caring adults who work in these programs can make a difference in the life of a child who is affected by violence.

Domestic Violence

 

Understanding domestic violence helps us support affected children. Domestic violence

• occurs in all age, racial, socioeconomic, educational, occupational, cultural, and religious groups
  
  
• occurs within intimate relationships

• typically involves repetitive behaviour, including different types of abuse: physical assault and psychological, emotional, and financial abuse
  
• is used to intimidate, humiliate, or frighten victims as a systematic way of maintaining power and control over them
  
  
• includes abusive behaviour that, in most cases, has been learned by the offender
  
  Abusive behaviour is modelled in the family of origin. The offender has seen that abusive behaviour gets the desired results for the person who uses it. Abusive behaviour
  • is caused by the offender, not by the victim or the relationship
  • is a criminal offence where actual or threatened physical or sexual force is used
  • differentially affects men and women. Women experience more violence over a lifetime, more severe forms of violence, and more serious injuries than do male victims.
  • may present increased risk to the victim and children at the time of separation from the offender
  • results in victim behaviour that is focused on ensuring survival (e.g., minimizing or denying the violence, taking responsibility for the violence, protecting the perpetrator, using alcohol or drugs, self-defense, seeking help, remaining in the abusive relationship)

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