Vazquez 1 Amairani Itzhel Vazquez Professor Angela Jacobs English 1101 08 April 2014 Violence among children in the

U.S. Violence among children has significantly increased throughout the years in the United States. There are many factors that contribute to this increase as well as effects that follow. Factors include such as poor parenting, media, peer pressure, and the exposure to violence whether it around the community etc. Several Children believe that violence is the proper way to deal with certain issues. Children can be exposed to violence anywhere/everywhere it not only at their homes that they can become exposed to violence but at schools, or in their community. Many parents arent realizing that their child/children are becoming violent or showing a form of violence. The parent(s) need to realize that this is an issue that can affect others around that child, parents can also be the reason why the child acts violent. There have been many headlines in the news that involve children doing horrible things, things you wouldnt believe a child would do. Now when you look at the news and think oh well that normal, but it not, the violence among children in the U.S has increased more than is ever has (Schill, Ryan). Most parent(s) have to go to work and leave their child home, several of those children are left unattended all alone with no supervision what so ever. This make the child feel free and

Vazquez 2 get the illusion that they can do whatever they want. The child may not feel loved, taken care for, and/or feel rejected, they believe their parents dont care about them or dont want them. Also when Parents of a child are divorcing/separating the child could tend to act out. These are causes that make the child become violent and act out. Several do this to get attention from their parent or from someone, they act out to let anger out. The child then start to commit violence in their community and/or in their surroundings, this can influence other children around them, it like a chain reaction. When a child home alone or not getting enough attention home, they began to act out, why? They want to see who cares, once the child commit a violent crime they began to get used to it or end up enjoying it and dont want to stop. In the media many violence occurs, such as in TV, video games, movies etc. when children are exposed to this especially at a young age they want to reenact the scenario they observed. Some believing what they just witnessed was okay and didnt see it as bad. Children should not be playing video games that are for older people and watching TV, or movies that arent intended for their age. Some watching violent acts become traumatize physically, mentally and emotionally. Peer pressure is a factor that can also contribute to violence, the child feels the pressure from those who want him to commit a violent act, (Teen Violence Statistics).For instance them child may have an older sibling, which that sibling teaches them or tell them that if they are being bullied they have to take action and hit that bully. Or if there is a confrontation there is people that yell or say just fight already, hit him/her and the child in the situation doesnt want to seem like a loser. The child will want to show that they are dominant.

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There have been incidents that the child act out because of peer pressure. They didnt want to commit what they did. Once they do the child may like what he/she did and repeat this act over and over. Some believe this is the answer to their situation. Children need to be taught at a young age that violence is not the answer, that there can be other ways to resolve the situation. Especially if they have an older sibling, they dont realize what they are not giving good examples to their younger sibling(s). The community of where the child lives can become an impact on them also. For example there are people that I know personally that live in a bad neighborhood were violent crimes are always being committed. Shootings, deaths, drugs and there are many children in the community that are being exposed to this. Ive seen children walking into that and they believe that stuff is normal they see it every day. They then follow into that path. This is a regular life to them, not all do walk in those paths but those that do dont realized that there is more out there. They believe this is what only left to see. What I am accustomed to. Violence in the U.S has increased significantly within children. Children are either being bad parented, the media promote violence, video games are being played by children which are intended for adults. Peer pressure is acted on every day and the exposure to violence is significantly high (Love Our Children). Violence is occurring more and more throughout children. This can be stopped if we stopped and look around us. Look what this generation has become and change it for the better.

Work Cited Love Our Children. Love Our Children.N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Schill, Ryan. THE CRIME REPORT- Your Complete Criminal Justice Resource. When Kids Commit Crime. N.p., 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2014 Teen Violence Statistics-Teen Violence. Teen violence Statistics Teen Violence. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.

Youth Violence National and State Statistics at a Glance. Centers for Disease Control and prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2014