Transitioning Times

Young children may not understand exactly what is going down between their parents and caregivers, but they do know when they are in danger and they are good at detecting strong negative emotion.  When there is an abusive parent who is doing or has done damage, it is important for them to know that there is still a parent that they can trust.  Let that parent be YOU! In order to build and keep the trust your child has in you, it is important to keep close to your child physically.  Keep your children close to you at this time. Kiss and hug them, look in their eyes when you speak to them. Smile and laugh at their attempts to be cute or funny.  Make sure that they get their meals and snacks – take the time to eat with them and to talk about normal things. It is also important that your children keep a normal bedtime and playtime, as well as a daily bath. Reading to your children is especially important during this time – it will give a child a sense of securit...

Kids who flee their homes to avoid domestic violence will often end up homeless.  These children face many challenges.  Boys and girls who must leave violent homes are more likely than their peers to experience emotional and behavioral troubles.  They are more apt to engage in physical or emotional bullying, or conversely, be victimized by bullies.  Child victims of domestic violence lose much of their capacity to concentrate and thereby learn.  Their trust in adults has been damaged, and can take months, sometimes years to restore.  On top of the immediate effects of homelessness due to violence, children face increased risk of developmental and physical impairment.  Limited nutrition and poor health care are just two of the many instances that are a direct result of homelessness.  It is a severely stressful situation for children to leave not only the abusive parent, but their homes, their pets, their belongings, and their familiar neighb...