60 35TH ANNUAL CRIME PREVENTION GUIDE Children who are exposed to family violence are impacted in a variety of ways. Children are very sensitive and aware of their environment. They know when violence is happening in the home, even if they do not witness it directly. The risk of child injury and/or abuse also greatly increases in situations of family violence. Despite this, not all children exposed to family violence present as having serious problems, or problems that one would connect to their home environment. This is because the impact of family violence typically depends on a child’s age and stage. Common traits of children who have witnessed family violence: • Trouble sleeping • Headaches, stomach aches • Increased aggressive behaviour (bullying, fighting, swearing) • Constantly worrying about danger and the safety of self and loved ones • Emotional numbing • Difficulty focusing on tasks • Acting out violence while playing • Avoiding people and violence • Developing fears of being abandoned or of being hurt • Becoming distrustful, insecure, etc. Infant/Toddler • Developmental delays; failure to thrive • Listlessness • Disrupted eating and sleeping routines • Fear may slow a toddler’s exploration and independent play • Begin to imitate violence PreSchooler (35 years old) • Trouble at bedtime (unable to sleep, fear of the dark, bedwetting) • Aggressive behaviours • Destruction of property (displaying anger in unhealthy ways) • Excessive separation anxiety (difficulty separating from trusted caregiver) • Whining and clingy behavior Designed by Freepik How Experiences of FamilyViolence Affect Children continued
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