Statistics on children committing violent acts is alarming. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2003, 5% of students ages 12-18 were victims of non-fatal crimes, about 4% were victims of theft, and 1% of students were victims of other violent incidents. In the period 1999-2001, about 20% of all public schools across the country reported serious violent crimes like sexual assault, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.

Studies show that aggressive or violent behavior is usually learned in childhood. Parents play an important role in minimizing violence by raising their children in loving and safe homes. Here are some suggestions that can help you help your children resist violence:

Give them love and attention

Your children need a strong and loving relationship with you to feel secure and safe. They are less likely to develop violent or aggressive behavior if you are very much involved in their lives. Showing love and giving attention to a child can be a challenge if parents are young and inexperienced. In this case, you must discuss this with a psychologist, your children's pediatrician, or a mental health professional who can give you advice on how to raise them. Parenting classes also help.

Supervise your children

Your children depend on you for support, protection, and encouragement as they learn to act and think for themselves. They will not get the help they need without proper supervision. Many studies have shown that it is the unsupervised children who usually have violent behavior. Know who your children's friends are and where they are at all times. Encourage them to join supervised after-school activities like tutoring programs, sports teams, or organized recreation

Be a role model

Teach by example. Your attitudes, values, and behavior strongly influence your children. So you must show them values of pride, honesty, and respect. They get their strength from these values, especially if they confront negative peer pressure or attend a rough school. You must also educate your children about the danger of aggressive behavior. Reward them with praise and attention whenever they constructively solve problems without using violence; it is likely to result in good behaviors.

Make rules and be consistent about discipline

Make rules and stick to them. Making rules and not enforcing them will only confuse and set up your children to do something unacceptable or inappropriate thinking that they can get away with it anyway.

Create a violence-free environment

Violence at home is harmful and very frightening to children. So you must create a safe, nonviolent, and loving home environment. Children who have witnessed violence at home may be more likely to use violence when resolving conflicts. Also, you have to keep them as much as possible from seeing too much violence on TV or computer games.