Through a New Lens
Seeing Woman Abuse in the Life of a Young Child
A Resource Package for Teachers of Early Childhood Education
by Linda Baker & Alison Cunningham (2005). A teachning module with everything you need, as a professor of early childhood education, to prepare and deliver a lecture or lectures about woman abuse and its effects on infants and young children, including PowerPoint slides, suggested class handouts, a test bank, and readings to assign or suggest for students. This resource was developed with funding from the
Ontario Women's Directorate.
This page has links to material referenced in the module:
 Through a New Lens: Seeing Women Abuse in the Life of a Young Child -- A Learning Module for Early Childhood Education Programs
Suggested Student Resources
These two resources are available in electronic format on the "Through a New Lens" CD. Students can access them on the Internet.
Learning to Listen, Learning to Help: Understanding Woman Abuse and its Effects on Children (2005)
Understanding the Effects of Domestic Violence: A Handbook for Early Childhood Educators (2001)
Other Recommended Learning Resources
Any of these resources can be assigned as required or optional reading.
American Psychological Association (2003)
Teach Carefully: How Understanding Child Development Can Help Prevent Violence. Washington DC: APA. 
This brochure helps families define realistic expectations about young children's behaviors and assists adults in using violence prevention strategies. It is one of several excellent resources for families and professionals available at Adults and Children Together Against Violence.
Association of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario. (2000)
A Child in Need of Protection: A Handbook on Child Abuse and Neglect for Early Childhood Educators.
This document is not available on-line but can be ordered from the Association.
Baker, Linda & Alison Cunningham (2004)
Helping Children Thrive / Supporting Woman Abuse Survivors as Mothers: A Resource to Support Parenting. London ON: Centre for Children & Families in the Justice System.
Contains a concise summary of how babies and young children can be affected by violence in their homes. You will also find material suitable for distribution to mothers of babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.
Cohen, E. & J. Knitzer (2004)
Young Children Living with Domestic Violence: The Role of Early Childhood Programs. Iowa City IA: University of Iowa.
This is one of six papers from the
Early Childhood, Domestic Violence, and Poverty Paper Series of the University of Iowa School of Social Work.
Cohen, E. & B. Walthall (2003)
Silent Realities: Supporting Young Children and their Families who Experience Violence. Washington DC: National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-centered Practice.
Among the topics addressed in this concise resource are the effects of trauma on infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers, possible symptoms in these three age groups, dealing with difficult child behaviours, when to seek professional help, 10 ways to calm an anxious child, characteristics of nurturing environments, and how early care professionals can help parents help their children.
Cunningham, A. & L. Baker (2004)
What About Me! Seeking to Understand the Child's View of Violence in the Family. London ON: Centre for Children & Families in the Justice System.
This research report summarizes the small literature on the impacts of inter-parental violence on infants, toddlers and pre-school children. Case studies are provided.
Videos/DVDs
"Seen...But Not Heard" (1993), 29 minutes.
This video will help counselors, teachers and other adults recognize behavioural patterns in children indicating they may have seen violence at home. It also demonstrates how to proceed from that point. One in a series of five videos on spousal abuse and domestic violence: What About Us?; Right from the Start; Time to Change; and, One Hit Leads to Another. Available in VHS or DVD formats, from Kinetic Video - www.kineticvideo.com or 1-800-263-6910.
"What About Us?" (1993), 28 minutes.
Companion to the video "Seen... but Not Heard," this video is designed for use with children (grade four and up) in a group setting to help them talk about and cope with their own experiences of witnessing abuse. This program explains to children who have witnessed spousal abuse what has happened and why they feel the way they do, while addressing common questions such as "Why can't we go home? Where's Dad? Why did the police come in the middle of the night?" Available in VHS or DVD formats, from Kinetic Video - www.kineticvideo.com or 1-800-263-6910.
"Kid's Stuff / Enfantillage" (1990), 6 minutes.
How conflict between parents is reflected in the anguished drawings of a child. This is a short animated film without words combining puppets and drawings on paper. Available in VHS format from the National Film Board - www.nfb.ca or 1-800-267-7710.
National Clearinghouse on Family Violence Video Catalogue (2005)
Supplementary Learning Activities
Take a virtual shelter tour at: www.dvsheltertour.org. Hear the voices of women who have sought shelter with Safe Horizon (in New York), see pictures of the inside of a shelter, and find answers to the questions that women entering a shelter might ask.
Students can use the Internet to find the Abuse of Children Wheel and the Nurturing Children Wheel, developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Minnesota.
Students will find a great deal of helpful information at any of these web sites:
The
Child & Family Services Act (Ontario)
Possible Class Handouts
The Power & Control Wheel / The Equality Wheel
These models, developed by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, show the behavioural and attitudinal characteristics of woman abuse and the characteristics of a healthy, equal relationship. Download copies from
www.duluth-model.org under the "wheel gallery."
How and When to Report Child Abuse and Neglect
information from the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies. This information is also provided in an interactive format at Use Your Voice.
How do I Respond to a Woman Who is Being Abused?
This is one of several answers to FAQs that you can find on the web site of
Education Wife Assault.
What's Wrong with Spanking? Positive Parenting Tip Sheet
A pamphlet available in .pdf format through the
National Clearinghouse on Family Violence
Helping Children Thrive: Information for Mothers Who Have Left Abusive Relationships
A pamphlet outlining 10 parenting "tips" designed to guide mothers whose children have been exposed to violence at home.
Potential Impacts of Violence on Infants and Toddlers
A page outlining a model of how the development of youngsters in this age group might be affected by violence in the family. Included are key points to keep in mind, and implications for intervention with mothers. There is also a handout for mothers on the same topic.
Potential Impacts of Violence on Pre-schoolers
A page outlining a model of how the development of children aged three to five might be affected by violence in the family. Included are implications for intervention with mothers of pre-schoolers. There is also a handout for mothers on the same topic.
Effects of Power and Control Tactics on a Mother
Eight ways a woman's parenting may be compromised by the presence of an abusive partner in her life. There is also a handout for women about how an abusive partner can affect you as a mother.
Other Related Web Sites
Action Ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes
Adults and Children Together Against Violence
L'Association francophone à l'éducation des services à l'enfance de l'Ontario
Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario
Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development
Childcare Resource and Research Unit
Early Learning and Child Care Quality by Design
Early Childhood Education Program Standard (Ontario)
Early Childhood Resource Teacher Network of Ontario
National Association for the Education of Young Children
Ontario Association of Children's Aid Socities /
Association ontarienne des sociétés de l'aide à l'enfance
Ontario Early Years Centres
The Trust for Early Education
Use Your Voice (to report child abuse in Ontario)
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