How would you describe your family?
Bonus points! 😊
What is domestic violence?
DV is defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse can be physical, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions.
What are some positive ways that parents can discipline children?
Discussion
Bonus point 😊What is child abuse?
Child abuse is when a child is hurt, mistreated, or not taken care of by someone who is supposed to protect them—like a parent, caregiver, or another adult.
Abuse can be physical, emotional, or neglectful.
What are mental health problems/struggles?
Mental health problems are when a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviors make it hard for them to feel okay or do everyday things. Just like our bodies can get hurt or sick, our minds and emotions can have tough times too.
Some examples of mental health problems include:
Feeling very sad for a long time, even when good things happen
Worrying a lot, even when there’s nothing big to be afraid of
Getting angry easily and not knowing why
Having trouble paying attention, sleeping, or eating
Not enjoying things that used to be fun
Name three ways you can calm yourself down when you're feeling angry or upset.
No wrong answer :) Your coping skills have to work for you! And everyone's look different.
Bonus point: What does "coping skill" mean?
What is the difference between fighting and disagreeing?
Disagreeing involves having different opinions or views on a subject, while fighting is a more aggressive form of conflict characterized by hostility, disrespect, and potentially physical altercations. Disagreements can be constructive, leading to different perspectives and potentially solutions. Fighting, on the other hand, is typically destructive and can damage relationships.
How do you define a relationship? What are some traits of a positive relationship?
A positive relationship is when two people actually care about each other and show it in the way they talk, listen, and act. It’s not about being perfect or doing everything together 24/7, but more about trust, respect, and support. You feel safe being yourself around them, whether that means showing your funny side, venting about a bad day, or sharing something super personal.
Describe different ways that physical abuse (or witnessing abuse) can affect children's behavior.
When a child is physically abused—meaning someone is hurting their body on purpose—it can affect how they feel and act, even when they’re not being hurt at the moment. Every child is different, but here are some ways it might show up in their behavior:
• They may flinch when someone moves quickly or seem jumpy, even if no one is trying to hurt them.
• Some children stop talking as much, try to hide, or keep to themselves because they feel unsafe or unsure who to trust.
• They might yell, hit, or act out—this could be their way of showing they’re upset or confused inside.
• They might cry or seem sad.
• They might struggle in school, have trouble focusing, keeping up with homework, or getting along with other kids.
• They might be afraid to tell anyone what’s happening, especially if they’ve been told to keep it a secret.
What is the best way to know how someone is feeling?
1. Listen to Their Words
2. Look at Their Body Language and Face
Sometimes people don’t say how they feel, but their body gives clues. You can notice:
Are they smiling or frowning?
Do they look tired, upset, or nervous?
Are they sitting quietly or acting differently than usual?
3. Ask in a Kind Way
If you think someone might be feeling sad, mad, or worried, it’s okay to ask. You can say:
“Are you okay?”
“You seem a little down. Do you want to talk?”
“I’m here if you need someone.”
If you could have any super power, which one would you choose?
Bonus points! 😊
Is it ever the child's fault if grown-ups in a family are fighting?
Nope - never! Adults are responsible for their actions, and domestic violence is never the child's fault.
Why might kids bully other kids?
Sometimes, when kids bully others, it’s not just because they want to be mean. There are usually reasons behind it—reasons that don’t make it okay, but help us understand what might be going on.
Here are a few common ones:
They Feel Bad About Themselves
Some kids bully because they don’t feel confident or happy inside. Hurting others can make them feel stronger or more in control, even though it’s not the right way to deal with those feelings.
They Want Attention or to Fit In
A kid might think being mean or acting tough will get them noticed or make them more popular. They might even be trying to impress their friends.
Things Are Hard at Home
If a kid is having problems at home—like if people are always fighting or they don’t feel loved—they might take out their anger or stress on others at school.
Who is at fault when a child is abused by an adult?
It is never the child’s fault.
No matter what the child said, did, or felt—they are not to blame.
The adult who is doing the hurting is always responsible. Grown-ups are supposed to protect and care for children, not scare or harm them. Even if the adult says it’s the child’s fault, or if the child has made mistakes (like all kids do), abuse is never okay and never the child’s responsibility.
What is trauma?
Trauma is what happens when someone goes through something really scary, upsetting, or hurtful, and it leaves a strong impact on their mind or body. It’s like when something bad happens, and even after it’s over, you still feel afraid, sad, or confused.
How trauma can make people feel:
You might have nightmares or scary thoughts
You might feel jumpy or nervous all the time
You might feel really sad or angry, even if you don’t know why
Sometimes people try to forget what happened, but the feelings stick around
What does internet safety mean?
Internet safety means being careful when you're using the internet—like when you're playing games, chatting with people, watching videos, or using social media. It's all about protecting yourself and your personal information while you're online.
Here’s what internet safety includes:
Keeping your personal info private
Don’t share your real name, address, phone number, school name, or passwords with people online—especially strangers.
Thinking before you click
Some links, messages, or ads can trick you into clicking on something bad. If it looks weird or too good to be true, it probably is!
Talking to trusted adults
If someone online says something creepy, mean, or confusing, tell an adult you trust right away.
Not talking to strangers
Just like in real life, you shouldn't talk to or meet up with people you don't know—even if they seem nice online.
If adults are physically fighting, what should a child do?
If adults are physically fighting, a child's priority should be their own safety. The child should remove themselves from the situation, preferably to a safe place like their room or a trusted neighbor's house, and call 911 or a crisis hotline if they or someone else is in danger .
How might someone who's being bullied feel?
Bonus point! Feelings aren't "wrong."
While there's no one way someone might feel after being bullied, here are some ways someone who’s being bullied might feel:
Sad or Depressed
Being picked on or left out over and over can make someone feel really down, like they don’t matter or something’s wrong with them.
Scared or Nervous
They might worry about going to school or being around certain people. They may feel like they’re walking on eggshells, just trying to avoid being hurt again.
Alone or Left Out
Bullied kids often feel like no one understands what they’re going through, or like they have no friends. This loneliness can feel really heavy.
Embarrassed or Ashamed
They might feel like it’s their fault or be too embarrassed to tell anyone what’s happening. They may even blame themselves, even though it’s never their fault.
Angry or Frustrated
Sometimes the pain turns into anger. They might feel like yelling, crying, or wanting to get back at the bully—even if they know that’s not the right choice.
Confused
They might wonder, Why me? What did I do wrong? It can be hard to understand why someone is being so mean.
How are children impacted when grown-ups call them names?
There's no wrong way to feel, but some potential feelings may be: sad, lonely, confused, afraid, or angry.
How do you know when your caregiver is angry? Sad? Happy?
No wrong answers :)
Name three things you like about yourself?
Bonus point! 😊
What are some healthy ways of resolving problems or conflicts?
• Use calm words and "I" statements. For example, "I felt hurt when that happened."
• Listen to understand, not just to respond. Use reflective statements to help understand each other. For example, "What I hear you saying is ____. Is that the way you mean it?"
• Try to solve the problem together. For example, ask, "What can we do so that we both feel okay about this?"
• Take a break if you're too upset. It's okay to say something like, "I need some time to calm down. Can we finish this conversation in an hour?"
What would an ideal relationship with a caregiver look like?
Bonus point!
What makes it hard for a child to tell others about physical or emotional abuse?
Sometimes, when a child is being hurt—either physically (like hitting) or emotionally (like being yelled at or called names a lot)—it can be really hard to talk about it. There are lots of reasons why a child might stay quiet, even if they really want help.
Here are some reasons why it can be hard:
• They feel scared. They might worry that the person hurting them will get angry, or that things will get worse if they tell.
• They’ve been told to keep it a secret.
• They feel embarrassed or ashamed, like it’s their fault, or they might not want others to know what’s happening at home.
• They may not know it's abuse. Some kids think the way they’re treated is “normal,” especially if it’s always been that way. They might not realize that what’s happening is wrong.
• They might not be sure who they can trust, or they might be afraid adults won’t listen or believe them.
Bonus point: Can you think of any other reasons?
What is grief? How do people express their grief?
Grief is the big group of feelings we have when we lose someone or something important to us. Most often, it happens when someone we love dies, but people can also feel grief when a pet dies, a friend moves away, parents get divorced, something really important changes.
Expressing Grief:
There is no "right" or "wrong" way to grieve. Grief can be complicated and often involve multiple feelings at once, or feelings in different cycles. Grief may look like: crying, feeling numb, isolating, getting angry, feeling tired.
Bonus point: