What You Can Do Excerpted from a brochure created through collaboration of the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Research has shown that violent or aggressive behavior is often learned early in life. However, parents, family members, and others who care for children can help them learn to deal with emotions without using violence. Parents and others can also take steps to reduce or minimize violence.
Parents play a valuable role in reducing violence by raising children in safe and loving homes.
Here are suggestions that can help. You may not be able to follow each one exactly, but if you do your best, it will make a difference in your children's lives. Every child needs a strong, loving, relationship with a parent or other adult to feel safe and secure and to develop a sense of trust. Without a steady bond to a caring adult, a child is at risk for becoming hostile, difficult, and hard to manage. Behavior problems and delinquency are less likely to develop in children whose parents are involved in their lives, especially at an early age.