Learned Behavior?

Violence is learned. When children are abused or neglected, they frequently become abusive themselves. The behavior is the same; it's just a matter of who's doing it to whom.

Living in violent neighborhoods is something that many parents cannot escape. However, one can take necessary precautions to insure the safety of children, by setting limits while they are young and seeking help a young person is uncontrollable.

Frequently overlooked is that of emotional abuse which can be just as devastating as physical abuse. Almost all parents are guilty of occasional emotional mistreatment, either by being unavailable or unnecessarily critical of their children. Parents who routinely insult, belittle, or withhold love from their children can devastate their emotional stability. It is crucial that caregivers encourage their children academically, emotionally and spiritually. As a child thinks, he becomes.

Parents and caregivers are the first line of defense for children. Through this booklet, we hope to offer some helpful information about how to protect and assist children during the violent times in which we live.

TV and Violence

Children as young a two years old easily imitate televised behaviors. Television violence can affect a child's behavior at an early age and the effects can extend well into the teenage years.

It is crucial that parents monitor children's television viewing. Violent acts are the daily fare of millions of American children who watch television an average of 21 hours per week. TV Guide reports a violent incident is shown, on average, every six minutes.

Sometimes the news and other programs can be as or more frightening than the violent streets of the inner cities. Don't let children 5 and younger watch the news. But if they see or hear about a violent news story elsewhere, explain what happened as honestly and with as little graphic detail as possible. Reassure them and reinforce their sense that they are loved and safe.

Encourage younger children to watch shows like "Sesame Street" and "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood". Just as television can have an adverse effect on children, positive TV shows can encourage learning and build self-esteem. For older children, encourage viewing of shows with nominal violence and those which uphold family values.

Back to Child Safety Book Table of Contents