5 Ways Domestic Violence Causes Harm to Children

Michelle Knudson
Domestic violence is not something to try to brush under the rug. Domestic violence causes harm to children in a variety of different ways. It is not healthy for the children to be around domestic violence in the home. Domestic violence causes children to cry themselves to sleep at night due to sadness and fear. Here are five ways domestic violence causes harm to children.

Your Children Learn To Protect The Abuser By Telling Lies

You harm the children when you force them to tell lies to protect the abuser in the house. They end up automatically getting used to making up excuses in order to give the appearance of being normal to the outside world. The lies enable the abuse to go on even further.

They Grow Up Thinking Domestic Violence Is Normal

You indirectly teach children that domestic violence is okay when you allow it to happen in the home. Two things can happen in a domestic violence situation in the home that lasts for several years. One is that the children will grow up thinking that domestic violence is okay in their own relationships as well. Another one is that some of the children might become abusive to their spouse since they learned it from childhood.

They Act Out From Growing Up In a Dysfunctional Home

Domestic violence will cause children to act out as a troubled individual in life. It isn't fair to the children to put them through the experience of being in a dysfunctional household being exposed to domestic violence. Children deserve to grow up in a household that doesn't have violence in the home.

It Causes Fear That Lasts Forever

Fear is something that children can easily feel in the home due to domestic violence. They may walk around on eggshells not wanting to make dad or mom mad to reduce the amount of violence between both parents. You might find them attempting to isolate themselves in their rooms even further.

Petty Theft Often Turns People Into Further Criminals

If mom gets beat up due to money problems in the household then sometimes the children will resort to stealing things. Stealing things for basic needs causes children to become even further criminals. They may be afraid to tell you about things that they need such as feminine products or lunch money each month due to seeing you get beat up by their dad or mom.

Try your best as much as possible to not allow domestic violence to cause harm to your children by leaving the bad situation. You don't want to teach your daughter or son that it is acceptable form of treatment. You might want to send the children to the grandparents in extreme cases to reduce the amount of harm caused to them as a result of being exposed to seeing domestic violence.

Published by Michelle Knudson

Michelle is a freelance writer who has sold and published over 550 articles. Her writing strengths include, business, financial topics and relationships. You may contact her at michelle@michelleknudsonwrite...  View profile

7 Comments

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  • C.6/18/2011

    EXCELLENT article!!!

  • Shana Dines5/22/2011

    Excellent advice and all so true. I also know how it damaged my self esteem and the self esteem of my children. Very very sad, and so important to get out of those situations and to get the help that you need.

  • Michelle Knudson11/30/2010

    Thank you very much. I devote my life to helping women and children leave bad situations. It brings tears to my eyes to know all the trauma that a victim goes through leaving and/or being in abusive relationship. The moment that one individual is brave enough to take that first step to leave the abuse is the moment freedom is gained back

  • Tiffany Booth11/8/2010

    Great article Michelle =0)

  • Jenny Heart11/7/2010

    David comment I totally support. Exceptional article!

  • David A. Reinstein, LCSW11/6/2010

    Sensible, clinically valid and in everyday English. A fine resource article!

  • Sandy James11/6/2010

    Very good article on this topic.

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