It’s that time of the year again, schools are welcoming children back to class and kids are reconnecting with old buddies and making new friends. For those children coming from homes where domestic violence occurs there may be difficulties in school that range from problems with concentration to poor academic performance and difficulty with peer interaction. Psychosomatic complaints (headaches/abdominal pain) may be frequent and the child’s sense of self-esteem and confidence may be diminished.
For some there may be guilt and shame about the abuse and conflicted feelings regarding the abusive parent. Some children take responsibility for the abuse and others keep the “secret” tucked away. Some or all of these factors may be symptoms of trauma. According to an article published in Child Abuse Prevention, forty percent of children exposed to domestic violence have lower reading abilities than children from non-violent homes. Children need to feel safe and secure, to have a sense of stability, and to live peacefully in a home that is a place of comfort, help, and support. It is then that a child can enter school, feel the joy of accomplishment, and look forward to a hopeful future.
If you or someone you know need help, call our 24-hour confidential domestic violence hotline at 208.343.7025 or visit our website www.wcaboise.org for more information.
