Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Domestic Violence

A few years ago I provided case management to a family that had been exposed to domestic violence for years. A mother and her four children came to receive housing and counseling for herself and her children.  My job was to help the family start their new life with the help of resources and safe housing.  After listening and assessing the family I notice right away that the children needed therapy right away.  The oldest daughter would gather all the children and would not let them leave her sight.  She explains to me that her job was to protect them from getting hurt.  One of the smaller children would lock herself in a closet to get away from any loud noises and the other children would begin to scream when they felt scared or frighten.  All of the problems these children faced impacted them socially, emotionally and physical.  One day a teacher found all the children together in the gymnasium under school bleachers.  The oldest sister explained that one of the smaller children didn’t get much sleep because of a bad nightmare and she was trying to protect her from her bad dream.  As an adult I’ve never experience anything like this and to hear and witness what these children had to endure was so hard for me and an experience I will never forget.  The family eventually moved after a year of being in the program and the oldest daughter still calls me to keep in touch.  The last time I spoke with her she said that she is still very shy and loves to read.  She said that she feels safe and her mother and siblings are doing well.  She also explains how she wants to be a counselor to help children the way I helped her and her family.   I always encourage her to pursue her dreams and her passions.  I told her that she would make an excellent counselor and I can’t wait to see her achieve her dreams of helping other children.  I’ve learned that children that have been exposed to any type of violence have a harder time expressing themselves and their emotions.  They sometimes become withdrawn or act out inappropriate ways.  My hope is that our society will realize that many of the issues our children faces impact them physically, emotionally, socially and cognitive.  It’s up to us all to make sure that children are safe and to make sure that parents have resources to get children help when needed.

 

I read this article” ELIMINATING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN” this article talks about ways government and society can protect and provided services to children that have been expose to violence around the world. 

http://www.ipu.org/PDF/publications/violence_en.pdf

 

Resource

Inter-Parliamentary Union and UNICEF. (2007). Retrieved from Eliminating Violence Aganist Children: http://www.ipu.org/PDF/publications/violence_en.pdf