Children's Needs – Parenting Capacity - Digital Education Resource ...

94 Children’s Needs – Parenting Capacity The risk of significant harm increases when children are involved inparental delusions, become targets for parental aggression or rejection, orare neglected for pathological reasons. Young children whose parents inject drugs are at risk of HIV/AIDS andhepatitis A, B and/or C from poorly stored used needles and syringes.Children may also be exposed to unsafe adults when their homes are usedby other drug users and dealers. To witness parental distress and suffering can have an adverse psychologicalimpact on children. Children are particularly vulnerable when exposed todomestic violence. Witnessing violence is extremely distressing to childrenand attempts to intervene can result in injuries. The negative impact of domestic violence is exacerbated when the violenceis combined with drink or drug use or when children witness the abuse, aredrawn into the abuse or collude in concealing the assaults. When parents separate as a consequence of domestic violence, children areat risk of being used as pawns in ongoing disputes between warring parents.In a few tragic cases this can result in the severe injury or death of a child.Protective factors The adverse effects on children are less likely when parental problems aremild; of short duration; unassociated with family discord and disorganisation;and do not result in the family breaking up. Children may also be protected when the other parent or a family memberresponds to the child’s developmental needs. The role of grandparents canbe the key to children’s safety and developmental progress when they livewith parents with learning disabilities. In relation to problem drinking ordrug use, children’s safety also depends on drugs and alcohol, needles andsyringes not being easily available. Children’s ability to cope is related to their age, gender and individualpersonality. Children of the same gender as the parent experiencingdifficulties may be at greater risk of developing emotional and behaviouralproblems. Children’s ability to cope is related to a sense of self-esteem andself-confidence; feeling in control and capable of dealing with change; andhaving a range of approaches for solving problems. Such traits are fosteredby secure, stable and affectionate relationships and experiences of successand achievement.