Our children live in a world where random violence is commonplace, even an acceptable way to solve problems. They hear about violence on the news. They see it played out in movies. Too often, they experience it in their own lives. The effects of exposure to violence on children vary from young children feeling scared, hopeless and unsafe, to sleep disturbances, emotional numbing and significant psychological problems that interfere with learning and appropriate behavior.
Some children develop aggressive behavior patterns that last well into adult life.
Research has shown that the amount of aggression exhibited by a child at age 8 predicts the level of violence at age 30 unless an intervention changes the direction of a child's life. Parents and teachers, working together, can play a critical role in reducing the exposure and influence of violence in a young person's life, and thereby help to change the culture of violence beginning with the early years. Let's Talk About Living in a World with Violence, James Garbarino presents activities parents and teachers can do with children. One objective of the activity is to help children feel they can do something about violence, and that you are there to help them. Parents and teachers point out that kids can't do everything to stop violence, but there are some things they can do.