Violence in Children: 8 Signs Fall Short

Violence Proof Your Kids Now: How to Recognize the 8
Warning Signs and What to Do About Them
by Erika V. Shearin Karres Conari Press, 225 pp. $14.95.

by Joan Baum, Ph.D.

The big problem with this well-intentioned, heartfelt guide, aimed mainly at “parents, teachers, and concerned caregivers,” is logical: it is speaking to the already committed—those reading the book—and it speaks about the already damaged—those too far advanced in suspicious behavior for families, schools and outside authorities to effect immediate change, especially considering the fact that too many disturbed youngsters have no families, or dysfunctional families, and go to indifferent and inadequate schools. Moreover, the reported record of too many social service agencies is dismal.

Though earnest and missionary in its call, the book is also at once too simple and unintentionally self-centered. Karres refers to herself as a “violence expert.”

Would that Karres had The Answers. Her signs are indeed important to recognize but, alas, exhortation is no answer; knowledge is not power. The eight signs are: The child 1) doesn’t listen to, or confide in a parent or older family member; 2) is chronically depressed or angry; 3) has access to guns or is fascinated by weapons or fire, 4) has failing grades, interest or attendance in school, 5) has bad friends who encourage him or her to smoke, drink, do drugs, or have sex, 6) isn’t involved in church, athletics, clubs, hobbies, 7) idolizes evildoers, 8) has no plan for future success. Readers are asked to “identify each statement as True or False” and to take action if more than two are true.

Of course, if each of us checks up on every kid we come into contact with, as the author implores, we may trigger the very crisis Karres would prevent. Pre-teen and adolescents are volatile stages and differ from culture to culture and class to class.

Nonetheless, redeemed by a sense of desperation about media-reported violence among the young and by an appendix of resource material, print and online, the book has promise as guided discussion.

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