As technology becomes a greater presence in everyone's lives, children cannot help but be exposed to more accounts of real-world violence, and parents and caregivers cannot realistically expect to fully protect children from reports of violence. The degree to which children are exposed to violence varies greatly, as does the degree to which they are affected.
Many children directly experience violence in their own lives.
The ideas children build about the role of violence in human interactions come from all of their exposures to it. Deciding what the adult's role should be in helping children work through the violence they are exposed to presents a big challenge. Most of us would prefer to avoid dealing with disturbing issues in order to protect children's innocence for as long as possible. Combating the Hazards of Media Culture, author Diane E. Levin provides useful strategies for families, caregivers, and educators for dealing with violence in the media, the media environment, and supporting children's healthy development. Let children know it is okay to raise these kinds of issues with you.