Children’s Program
Why we created this program
Intimate partner violence (IPV) can leave a lasting impact on the whole family. Since the early 1980s, when Interval House became Canada’s first shelter to develop and fund a Children’s Program, it has been an essential part of helping families heal and rebuild their lives after abuse. Focused on breaking the cycle of abuse through intervention and support, our approach is individualized — geared to the specific needs of each child.
About the Children’s Program
We have created some really warm and welcoming spaces just for kids at Interval House! We have a big, bright playroom in the family area where children can enjoy toys and activities and make new friends. We also have the children’s room, where counselling groups and structured play are facilitated.
Helping Moms and Their Kids Reconnect
To help kids and their moms reconnect after leaving abuse behind, we organize family activities, like baking and gardening. On Saturdays, we go on affordable outings to parks, festivals, attractions or movies. Exploring the city and taking public transit helps women and children regain their confidence and independence, which is essential to the healing process after living in an abusive household. For many families, their first visit to the Zoo, the Art Gallery of Ontario or the Royal Ontario Museum is with Interval House. It’s an exciting time filled with new experiences and renewed hope.
Children’s Counselling
Our children’s counselling sessions are unstructured, and this is a key distinction between the Children’s Program and Women’s Program. Child & Youth Counsellor/Advocates observe how children play and interact with each other to determine how the abuse has affected them, and work out how to address it. Our approach is individualized — geared to the specific needs of each child.
We tailor our programs for kids based on age. With younger kids, we focus on sharing and cooperation. Our art group facilitator helps kids express themselves in safe and creative ways. We have special programs like Nobody’s Perfect, a partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, for moms and kids under 5 that reconnect them through play, singing, and reading. Parenting in an abusive home is often about keeping children quiet and safe. It’s a very freeing experience at Interval House when moms rediscover how to engage and bond with their kids.
With older kids, we talk about sexuality, bullying, defining abuse, boundaries, and we help them explore their feelings about leaving everything they knew behind. Our children’s groups are co-facilitated by two counsellors — a man and a woman. This serves to model positive and respectful interactions between differently gendered people, something many kids have never seen for themselves.
Our Goals
By giving moms and their children the supports they need to strengthen family bonds and establish healthy relationships, we ultimately empower them to break the cycle of violence and create a brighter future.
