Violent Images Impact Kids Differently

Experts Offer Tips To Help Children Cope With Scenes Of War

(WebMD)  Teens

When it comes to teens’ exposure to violent images, parents can and should take a direct, involved approach, Salamon says. “Go over the news, read the newspaper together, discuss what’s going on,” he suggests.

Older children exposed to violent images can find it empowering to be part of a solution. For instance, if a natural disaster strikes, parents may suggest that their children contact the local Red Cross chapter to see how they can volunteer to help.

When kids get involved, they gain a sense of control, explains Hagan. “It makes them feel like they’re making a difference,” she tells WebMD. —

Older children may also find comfort in developing a plan of action, should a catastrophic event touch their own lives, suggests Brian Chu, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Rutgers University.

“Problem-solve with your child,” he says. This might include plans on how parents and children can maintain contact with one another in the event of a tragedy, like getting in touch by cell phone. The level of detail parents offer during such a discussion should depend on the age, maturity level, and general anxiety level of the child, explains Chu.

Reduce Excessive Exposure at Any Age

Most experts agree that children, regardless of age, should not be exposed to an excessive amount of violent images. Seeing a bomb explode is one thing. Watching it detonate repeatedly can make a single incident seem much grander in scale, particularly to an audience of young children.

Take, for example, coverage of 9/11 events. “Little kids kept seeing those images, and they thought there were lots of planes,” says Kaslow.

Around-the-clock news coverage from multiple sources makes it difficult to limit exposure. “It’s constant. We have 24-hour news stations, which leads people to believe they live in an unsafe environment,” Villani tells WebMD.

So it’s up to parents to monitor exposure. “TV shouldn’t be background noise, particularly 24-hour news shows. That visual image is enticing, but children can’t necessarily process it,” Villani says.

Fear is one consequence of excessive exposure; unwanted behavior changes are another. “The literature has concluded that, in some cases, repeated exposure to violence heightens neurochemical changes in the brain that correlate with aggressive behavior,” Salamon tells WebMD.

Plus, lots of children need a break from the real-life violence they confront in everyday life. “Thirty five percent of children are sexually abused over time. Seventy percent of children in urban environments are exposed to violence. Why would we want to exposure them to even more?” Salamon asks.

Assess Level of Fear

When it comes to assessing the effect of violent images on children, parents need to consider more than age. “It also depends on the particular child. Some are way more sensitive than others,” Kaslow tells WebMD.

By carefully evaluating a child’s reaction first, parents can avoid creating an atmosphere of fear where one doesn’t exist. “Talk and listen in a way that allows children to express their own potential fears. Don’t assume that they’re having a reaction that they may not be [having,” says Chu.

Build a Secure Atmosphere

While parents can’t always know how their children will react to violent images, they can take concrete steps to create and maintain an atmosphere of security.

Providing a secure home environment probably tops the list. “When children can at least know that their home is a safe place, that eases their anxiety level,” Kaslow tells WebMD.

Putting violent events into perspective helps too. “Tell them the events are rare and that, generally, the world is a safe place,” suggests Hagan. —

Despite parents’ best efforts to help children maintain a sense of security and control over their lives in the midst of troubling images, anxiety levels may remain high.

”If it seems like an obsession that’s consuming their thoughts or actions, then you need to address it,” Kaslow says.

Because one thing is certain -- the world’s violence is not going to go away.

SOURCES:: Susan Villani, MD, medical director, school programs, Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Md. Lynn Hagan, PhD, a licensed clinical social worker; and expert on how violence affects children. Michael Salamon, PhD, clinical psychologist, New York City. — Nadine Kaslow, PhD, psychologist, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Emory University, Atlanta. Brian Chu, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, Rutgers University.