Choosing Positive Paths

Parents Information Kit

A note about language, violence and children

People caring for a child who has experienced violence are often very worried about how that experience will affect the child. Children – regardless of their age – do respond to what's going on around them. However, the effect on children and their recovery can depend on many things. You can do a lot to help.

This page is part of an information kit to help you understand and respond to some of the effects of violence on a child.

The main focus of the kit is domestic violence – that is, intimate partner violence – and its effects on children. We also touch on issues of child abuse and other violence experienced by children, usually included in the term family violence.

The kit talks about children who have experienced violence. This means knowing about, seeing or hearing violence against someone else. It also means being assaulted or abused by family members. All forms of violence in the family affect children.

Mostly the language in the kit is directed at mothers. However it will also be helpful for other people who are taking on the role of primary carer – fathers, grandparents, aunts, family friends and even foster parents. In this resource, the phrase 'your child' means 'a child in your care'.

FIND OUT MORE

FIND OUT MORE about specific services to which Women's Health West can refer women and children affected by family violence.

FIND OUT MORE about other services available in the Western Region and beyond through our Community Directory.