First Impressions: Exposure to Violence and a Child’s Developing Brain

Produced by the California Attorney General's Office, this 15 minute video discusses the lasting impacts of domestic violence on young children and their brain development. It highlights that repeated exposure to violence changes the brain, affecting a child's ability to develop attachments, focus in school, self-soothe, etc. The video concludes with a glimmer of hope, explaining that new neurons in the brain can be developed to heal childhood trauma, and this healing is best fostered when children are surrounded by caring adults, able to talk about their experiences, and hear that the violence is not their fault.