What do kids need most? For sure, they need to feel loved and secure. When I was a kid, my security came from the consistency of my home and the absolute knowledge that my parents would provide for me. I knew that if I was hungry, there was food, that I had a bedroom that was warm and secure but, most of all, I knew I was safe from danger. These comforting things formed my outlook on life and on my ability to trust and to feel confident. Too often, children aren’t provided an environment in which they feel safe and secure, thus they may feel anxious, unsettled and unhappy. When domestic violence invades a home, whether it be hearing a parent verbally threatening the other, seeing a parent assault the other, or the aftermath of a violent assault, the impact upon children is immediate and may be long-term. It has been linked to poor school performance as these children have more difficulty concentrating and completing their homework. As this new school year begins, take a little extra time to listen to your children, regularly praise them and, most importantly, promise to love them and to always keep them safe.
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