ERIC Number: EJ920236
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 5
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0164-8527
EISSN: N/A
Fostering Resilience in Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Practical Strategies EC Staff Can Put into Action
Stephens, Karen
Exchange: The Early Childhood Leaders' Magazine Since 1978, n195 p68-72 Sep-Oct 2010
Children enmeshed in violence don't experience a relaxed, predictable, or trusting home life. In fact, children exposed to home violence often experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) just as adults do after enduring violence. Domestic violence robs children of their childhood. And while early childhood staff can't erase the effects of violence on children's individual make-up, they can become a positive mediating factor. By nurturing children's ability to rebound from challenges, early childhood professionals can help children become resilient, despite their early experiences with trauma. To become an effective "resilience factor" for children, they must be aware of the effects of violence on children. Early childhood staff--especially classroom teachers and caregivers--need to be alert to symptoms that suggest children may feel under siege in their own home. With that knowledge, they can make specific adjustments in their classrooms and programs to increase children's resilience. If they do so with intentional and consistent effort, they can help traumatized children feel more trusting, safe, secure, and hopeful about life, despite their personal experience with family violence. They can be an intervention to show children an alternative view of human interaction that is characterized by dignified interactions and respectful conflict resolution. It's another side of life they desperately need to believe in. This article presents some symptoms early childhood staff might observe and offers some strategies early childhood staff can apply to support all children's resilience. The strategies are especially helpful to children traumatized by domestic violence. (Contains 18 online resources and 9 resources.)
Descriptors: Family Violence, Early Childhood Education, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Family Environment, Caregivers, Young Children, Interaction, Conflict Resolution, Child Development, Counseling Techniques, Resilience (Psychology), Preschool Teachers, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Role, Trust (Psychology), Safety, Intervention, Interpersonal Relationship, Aggression, Play
Exchange Press, Inc. P.O. Box 3249, Redmond, WA 98073-3249. Tel: 800-221-2864; Fax: 425-867-5217; e-mail: info@ChildCareExchange.com; Web site: http://www.childcareexchange.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A