Domestic Violence and Children


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How Domestic Violence Can Affect Children

Witnessing domestic violence can have a profound impact on some children. They may manifest behavioral or physical symptoms or develop emotional problems such as depression, low self-esteem, anger, guilt or impaired ability to form relationships. Other children witness domestic violence with little to no effect.

Through Their Eyes: Domestic Violence and Its Impact on Children is the latest addition to the YWCA's ongoing awareness and outreach campaign against domestic violence. This 36-page book features information about how children can be affected as well as case histories and drawings from participants in the YWCA Children’s Domestic Violence Program in South King County, a program that helps children who’ve witnessed domestic violence.

Through Their Eyes showcases children’s varied experiences with and responses to violence. It explains how children may benefit from advocacy-based counseling programs such as the YWCA Children’s Domestic Violence Program. It is also a powerful document about hope—that together, we can and will make change for families affected by domestic violence.

To get a copy of Through Their Eyes
Limited copies of the print version of Through Their Eyes are available by calling (206) 461-4449 or by e-mail. Through Their Eyes was printed with a generous donation from the Boeing Company.

Otherwise, click here to download a free, full-color PDF version of Through Their Eyes.

Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the PDF. It is available for free from Adobe.com.

Additional information
For more information on the YWCA Children’s Domestic Violence program, contact Children’s Advocate Kellie Rogers at (425) 226-1266 ext. 1029 or via email.

Download Through Their Eyes

One Child’s Experience of Domestic Violence

Erik came to the Children’s Domestic Violence project through his school counseling office. He was having trouble concentrating in his fifth grade classroom, and couldn’t make new friends. Like many children who have seen domestic violence, he was suffering from what he had seen and had no skills to express his emotions.

The troubles stemmed from violent incidents he witnessed at home. In one, he’d opened the door expecting a pizza, but instead found his mother’s ex-boyfriend, who they hadn’t seen in a year. Erik asked him to wait outside on the deck. When ex-boyfriend saw Erik’s mother, he became violent and drew a gun. He hit the mother on the head, fracturing her skull. Erik fled, running next door to call the police, the ex-boyfriend chasing after him.

The Children’s Domestic Violence program gave Erik the opportunity to talk about this experience both verbally and through art. He learned coping skills and created a safety plan that will help him if he’s ever involved in another incident. He now attends school without anxiety and participates on a sports team.

—Story used by permission