61 FAMILY VIOLENCE AWARENESS School Age (612 years old) • Difficulty expressing feelings • Bullying; fighting; selfharm • Signs of depression and anxiety; withdrawing from friends and family • Feel insecure, especially if there are frequent parental separations; fear being abandoned; fear their own anger and that of others • Learn to rationalize violence and abusive behaviours • Start to display violent behaviour; disrespect for self and others Adolescents (13 17 years old) • Develop their own unhealthy relationships; teen dating violence • Bullying; selfharm; suicidal ideation • Skipping school or not going to school • Threaten and display violence towards others; disrespect for self and others • Substance use and abuse (alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, etc.) Girls Girls who have witnessed family violence tend to display higher levels of anxiety than boys. They are more likely to display physical symptoms of their emotional distress, such as: eating problems, stomach aches or headaches, and difficulty sleeping. They often miss time in school and struggle academically. They also tend to be ‘loners’ and have difficult developing relationships with their peers. Boys Boys who have witnessed family violence tend to be aggressive toward their peers and teachers. Theycan also be disruptive and disobedient in the school setting. Boys, especially, tend to lack the communication skills needed to express their feelings in healthy ways and, instead, are more likely to be aggressive and destructive. Boys often take on an adult role in the family at an early age (such as being the support person for their mother) and often continue a pattern of violence in their own adult relationships. Despite the challenges faced by children who have been exposed to family violence, there is hope! Positive influences can help a child overcome negative experiences. Children are extremely resilient and have many coping skills that will help them be healthy and thrive once free of violence. It is important to access resources to support children who have witnessed the abuse of others, or who have personally experienced any form of abuse or neglect. www.fvps.ca How Experiences of FamilyViolence Affect Children continued
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