Even if they are not physically present, they are aware of the violence.
Children experience many feelings and have many reactions to the violence they witness.
Children may have physical complaints of headaches, stomach aches, diarrhea, or chronic colds. They are often overwhelmed and may suffer in school or cope by becoming overachievers. How children react to and cope with witnessing violence may depend on their developmental level, coping skills, age, access to resources, and the existence of support persons in their lives. At the least, we know that witnessing domestic violence is emotionally traumatizing to any child living in that home. I tried to stop him, but he pushed me down the stairs.