Child Development Stressors

The effect of violence on a child's development

A family friend who is now 17 came to visit with me last month and we discussed alot of things about his childhood.  He grew up in and lives in an extremely dangerous inner city neighborhood.  The childhood he described was filled with constant fear.  He witnessed someone being killed across the street from him when someone just came out from a building and shot the person across the street.  He learned that when things like that happen you make sure you do not say anything.  Outside of his building where he lives, he sees used, discarded needles scattered by his front door on a daily basis. He described how he has difficulty sleeping because he has to constantly be aware of any sounds.  A neighbors apartment was broken into by a drug addict when they climbed in through the a/c vent (window a/c).  He literally did not sleep the first night he was at my house.  He told me that at home he sleeps with a knife under his pillow.  After two nights of not sleeping, I told him he could take one of the kitchen knives to keep under his pillow.  He was then able to sleep. 

He started having problems in school with agression and violence when he was about 11 or 12.  Luckily, his mother took him for counseling.  He still sees the same counselor to this day twice a month.  She has helped him a great deal to understand the things that he has seen and find a way to handle his emotions and anger.  He is an honors student who will be graduating next year and is currently taking college level classes.  His level of understanding of himself was eye opening to the important role a counselor can have to impact a child's life. 


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Realizing the effect that violence has on a child's development with his story, I looked into what the effect violence has had on children who have grown up in a country destroyed by war.  If his experience had such a profound effect on his development, I wondered what about children who experience even greater amounts of violence.

I found interesting information on the effect of war on children at a website for the organization, War Child.  http://www.warchild.org.uk/issues/effects-war-children?gclid=CNPIiPG-3LICFQsGnQodMQIAnw

It describes the scope of the problem which is horrific.  The organization makes an important point by mentioning the difference one person can make in a seemingly endless need.  The provide life skills and advocacy for children in war stricken countries such as DR Congo.  They also support advocacy groups looking to improve things on an international level. 

On the website they mention instead of asking what difference can one person make, to try asking, what difference can you make to one person.  http://www.warchild.org.uk/what-difference-can-one-person-make