A new wave of abuse is happening behind the doors of family homes but it’s one that many are too ashamed to discuss. Domestic violence used to mean an angry man beating a helpless female partner and child. But last year in the region of 12,000 parents called ParentLine to report violent children landing blows, bites and punches on them when they didn’t get their own way.
Islay Downey, featured practitioner on Channel 5’s My Violent Child (as well as adviser on BBC 2’s Blame the Parents) and Kim Furnish have written the first book on this issue specifically for parents. The book offers warm and sympathetic step-by-step advice to look at the underlying causes of violent children, and encourages the parent to examine their own lives to prepare strategies for effective change.
Includes fictionalised case studies based on real families the authors have worked with.
Islay Downey is a parenting facilitator and consultant who has worked with both families and youth offenders for Southampton City Council.
Kim Furnish is a life coach and parenting specialist.