What is Domestic Violence?

domestic abuse
domestic abuse

Domestic Violence is violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner. 

 

 Although Domestic Violence is often physical abuse, it does not always have to be. It can also include emotional abuse including coercive control (Domestic Violence Act 2018). 

 

Coercive control is one partner taking control over the others money, your whereabouts or what type of clothing you wear.  

 

Regardless of what level of violence is in the home, it is never acceptable. There are supports available through the following helplines: 

 

Women’s Aid: 1800 341 900 

 

Or by texting ‘’HELLO’’ to 50808. 

How can I support my child if there is domestic violence in our home?

It is important to shelter your child from harm at all times. If your child is aware of the abuse in the family home, talk to them. 

 

Advise them that it is not okay and that they need to keep themselves safe as possible from harm during incidents of Domestic Violence in the family home. It may be helpful to make a safety plan with your child to ensure they can keep safe from harm of the perpetrator.  

 

Provide your child with Childline’s freephone number 1800 66 66 66, so that they can speak to a trusted adult if they feel it is something they would like to do. Childline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Safety Plans

A safety plan is a plan for a child or young person to keep themselves safe in the event of an incident of Domestic Violence. 

 

In this plan, ideas of the child keeping themselves safe would be to go to another room, not to get involved in the argument or holding their teddy bear really tight, to help them feel safe. 

 

It might be important if the child had a safe adult they could contact, if it were safe to do so, and speak to them. It is pivotal that children are kept safe from harm, all whilst knowing that this type of violence is never okay.  

 

If you need further support in relation to this, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Line service, that is available Monday to Friday 9am-1pm. 

WATCH: What Happens When A Child Contacts Childline?

childline
childline

Be honest with yourself. How would you feel if you found out your child had called Childline or used it’s text or live messaging service?

If the answer is horrified/dismayed/upset/confused, we get it. There is a misconception that if a child calls Childline it must mean that they are in some form of deep distress or crisis, that they have nowhere else to turn and that something has gone very wrong in their lives. 

Occasionally, that is the case.

But more often than not, children and young people get in touch for much more mundane, but equally valid, reasons.

They’re bored, they’re lonely, they had a fight with you, they’re sick of being stuck at home, they’re worried about exams. We’re happy to talk to young people about ANYTHING that’s on their mind.

The main aim of our service is to listen, believe and support the young person at the other end of the chat. Our focus is on resilience – empowering them to find the solution that’s right for them.

Childline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It’s free, confidential and non-judgemental. Sometimes children just want to chat to someone who doesn’t know everything about them. The hope is that they will turn to you when they’re ready but in the meantime, we’re happy to listen and help them understand whatever it is they’re going through.

Safer Internet Day 2021: Free webinars for parents and teachers

webinars
webinars

Safer Internet Day 2021 takes place on Tuesday, February 9th and promises to deliver a fascinating insight into internet safety and how we can empower young people to make healthier online choices.

If you’re a parent, carer or teacher, there are three seminars happening over the course of the week that will help you understand the challenges facing the next generation and how to help them.

Hosted by the Irish Safer Internet Centre, here are the details for the #BeKind Online Webinar Series:

Tuesday, 9 February: 7.30pm-8.15pm 

·     Title: Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Teenagers

·     Guest Speaker: Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton, cyberpsychology researcher, member of the Cyberpsychology Research Group at the University of Wolverhampton and lectures in Cyberpsychology and Psychology in IADT, Dun Laoghaire.

·     Audience: This webinar is for parents of teenagers.

·     Register here

Wednesday, 10 February 7.30pm-8.15pm

·     Title: Empowering Healthy Online Behaviour in Younger Children

·     Guest Speaker: Mark Smyth, Consultant Clinical Psychologist

·     Audience: This webinar is for parents of younger children.

·     Register here

Thursday, 11 February 7.30pm-8.15pm

·     Title: Empowering students to build digital resilience and manage their online wellbeing

·     Guest Speakers: Jane McGarrigle and Tracy Hogan (Webwise)

·     Audience: This webinar is for teachers, educators, school leaders and education stakeholders.

·     Register here

Resources

* Safer Internet Day would not be possible without the support of the European Commission. Currently the funding is provided by the Connecting Europe Facility programme (CEF). Find out more about the EC’s “European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children” on the European Commission’s website.