Domestic Abuse

This week we are talked to the children about domestic abuse – what it is and what our children can do if they are worried about it.

Domestic abuse is sometimes called ‘domestic violence’ and it can involve an adult threatening, bullying or hurting another adult in their family or who they are in a relationship with – a bit like child on child harm.

What is Domestic Abuse?

It is normal for adults to disagree and be a bit grumpy with each other – we all get frustrated about things – this doesn’t mean it is domestic abuse.  Domestic abuse if when one person is intentionally being unkind to the other person in their relationships, or towards another adult in their family.

We helped the children to understand this by naming some types of Domestic Abuse:

• Physical
• Verbal
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Online
• Controlling behaviour
• Controlling finances

Some examples of Domestic Abuse:

• Kicking
• Hitting
• Punching
• Saying unkind things
• Not letting someone having money or stopping them from going to work to earn money
• Telling someone where they can go and what they have to wear
• Not letting someone leave the house
• Threatening to hurt someone, a pet or someone else in their family

We reminded the children of their right to speak up and how to get help by talking to:

• 5 safe adults
• Safeguarding team
• Chatterbox
• Childline

All of our children deserve a happy childhood – lets work together to make sure that this happens.