VIOLENCE; Its Effect On Child Development

There are many different stressors that even small children are faced with, no matter where in the world they live. Violence is one that those stressors that I have seen impacting young children that affect them through adulthood.

In Jamaica there are high levels of community violence in some areas, especially in the inner city communities. Much of this is caused by what is known as grass root political influence, a high rate of unemployment and lack of a social structure. There is an openness of everything that happens in these communities, everyone has knowledge and is affected by the violence somehow. These are called garrison communities and there is no secret about what takes place in these communities. The sad fact of it all though is, that everyone there knows what happens and knows how to see and be blind and to hear and be deaf.

I taught first grade in an inner city elementary school, the neighborhood children were very used to violence. Every day they would have another gruesome story of the previous night’s occurrence. They could relate the full details of what took place, whether it was a stabbing, or shooting, fire set to a neighbor’s house or spousal beatings. Some of these kids demonstrated very aggressive behaviors while others acted shy and withdrawn. According to an article written by Novella J. Ruffin, a professor from Virginia State University, “Children react in different ways to stress. Some children become ill. Some may become withdrawn and nervous while others show anger and demand attention”.

Stressors impact different children in different ways, depending on factors such as their personality, ability, or their coping method. The child study center in an article by Sabine Hack, stated that; “Stress can affect children's physical health as well. Asthma, hay fever, migraine headache and gastrointestinal illnesses like colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and peptic ulcer can be exacerbated by stressful situations” (http://www.aboutourkids.org/). It is not always obvious, that these children were undergoing stress. This is so because children, in this case, were often coached not to discuss anything that is happening in their community and that they should trust no one. There was one little girl in particular, When this happened, she would sit staring into space. When I ask her what was wrong she would say “I feel sick” or “my stomach hurts", or she would just start crying. At other times she would be very aggressive when asked to share with others. I started letting her pick a special book that she likes and take it home over night. I also gave her special duties in class that she chose to be in charge of. She was an only child so I did the buddy program in my class, and made sure that she was comfortable with the buddy she had for the week. My daughter was also in the first grade and was one of her frequent buddies.

One Thursday afternoon she asked if she could come home with us for the weekend, I sent a note home with her for her mom to come and see me. Her mom shared her concern for her exposure to so much violence, and express joy when I said yes to her spending the weekend. Overtime she became less stressed, knowing that every other weekend she would go home with us. She learned to play a lot and did children and family activities all weekend long. She once told me that she wanted to call us mom and dad when she was at our house, she has been calling us that for the past twenty four years.

Reference

Novella J. Ruffin, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Child Development Specialist, Virginia State University, Virginia Dept. of Education Licensed School Psychologist and NCSP 

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/stress_in_children_what_it_how_parents_can_help