Help prevent violence by raising our children in safe and loving homes
and by teaching children that violence does not solve problems, it
creates them.
Here are ten tips to help prevent violence in your home and
community.
Preventing violence in your home
1. Set a good example. If you yell, throw things, and hit when you get
angry, your child will learn to do the same. If controlling your anger
is difficult, seek counseling or talk to your pediatrician.
2. Never hit your child. While hitting and spanking may seem to be the
easiest ways to discipline your child, they are actually the least
effective. Try using time-outs with younger children. Older kids can be
disciplined by denying them a special privilege.
3. If you keep a gun at home, unload it and lock it up separately from
the ammunition. Never store firearms, even if unloaded, in places where
children can find them. Don't carry a gun or a weapon. This shows a
child that using a gun solves problems.
Putting the plug on media violence
4. Make sure your family watches no more than one or two hours of TV a
day. Spend time talking, reading, or playing with your child instead.
5. Monitor what your child sees. Watch TV and movies with your child,
and talk about what you're viewing. Tell your child that gun violence
on TV and in the movies is not real. Explain that in real life children
are hurt and killed by guns.
6. Use your family VCR to tape TV shows when your child is at school or
involved in other activities. This encourages you child to plan out
what he's going to watch on TV and shows that you respect his viewing
rights.
Preventing violence in your community
7. Get involved with local organizations that work to eliminate
violence. Joining the PTA or a neighborhood-watch group, for instance,
is an excellent way to help keep your streets and community safe.
8. Make sure children in your community have enough to do. Help plan
safe activities for your child and for kids in your neighborhood.
Support after-school and organized sports programs. Organize residents
to clean up places where children play.
9. Call or write your legislators. Find out what bills relating to
violence or crime are up for a vote, and let legislators know your
views.
10. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. She is trained to
help you handle family issues.
