Children are victims of domestic abuse too

Children and young people are affected by their experiences in the home and as such growing up in homes where there is domestic abuse will have a negative effect on them. Here is some information for our children and young people.

There are lots of ways that someone can be abusive, but the thing they have in common is that they make someone else feel bad. In all families there will be times when people feel cross and argue with each other. It is ok to disagree with each other and to have different ideas and opinions but in a fair argument each person should feel that they have had a chance to say what they think and be listened to. You should not be made to feel frightened or stupid by someone else. When there are positive relationships you can work things out after you have both calmed down, by discussing things together and making friends.

Domestic Abuse is when someone in your family or someone who is close to your family wants to control everyone else, and says and does things that hurt or scare the people close to them. The abuse can happen for any reason at any time - not just in your home.

 These are some of the things that might happen:

Emotional abuse
• Calling you names that hurt your feelings or make you feel ugly or stupid
• Isolating you by making visitors feel unwelcome
• Stopping you from joining in activities with your friends
• Ignoring you or giving you the 'silent treatment'
• Throwing things, slamming doors, punching walls, blocking exits.
Physical Abuse
• Making you watch someone else being hurt, or forcing you to hurt them too
• Hurting you e.g. by hitting, slapping, kicking or pinching
• Threatening or hurting a family pet

Sexual Abuse
• Touching you in places you don't like or that makes you feel uncomfortable
• Making you take part in sexual activities
• Making you watch sexual images