The effects of being a child soldier
Being a child soldier has many mental and physical effects on the children involved. First of all, they are raised in severe violence, and are forced to commit horrible cruelties. This can cause chronic and traumatic stress, depression, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), personality changes, social isolation, impairment of integration into society and delayed and stunted cognitive development. All of these side effects of being a child soldier are crippling to the children they effect. They prevent the children from having normal lives once they escape being a child soldier. Some children will live a life of violence since that is all they have known since they were young, others are not able to form healthy relationships.
Besides mental effects on child slaves, there are also physical effects as well. The children are often malnourished, causing stunted growth and fragile bodies. During wars, many children are severely injured, if not killed. These injuries include loss of limbs, loss of sight and hearing, as well as gun shot wounds and slashes. These injuries have major effects on the children's lives. They could become handicapped or disabled from these injuries, and may not be able to function independently in their daily lives.
Besides mental effects on child slaves, there are also physical effects as well. The children are often malnourished, causing stunted growth and fragile bodies. During wars, many children are severely injured, if not killed. These injuries include loss of limbs, loss of sight and hearing, as well as gun shot wounds and slashes. These injuries have major effects on the children's lives. They could become handicapped or disabled from these injuries, and may not be able to function independently in their daily lives.
Overall, being a child soldier has countless negative effects, both mentally and physically, on the children involved which can impair their ability to lead normal lives after their time as child soldiers has ended. For the past several years, organizations have worked hard to try and free child soldiers. After they are released from torture they are usually put in a rehabilitation program and given medical treatment. Sometimes children are able to heal and join society again, even going back to school but others will never be whole.
Child soldiers not only affect the child but also the family. Their sons or daughters are ripped from their arms, given a gun and told to kill. The emotional damage to a family is exponential. Often times their children are forced to kill their own family. After the children are rescued from being soldiers the families often do not want anything to do with the children or the children are left as orphans because they killed their own family. Child soldiers destroy individuals, families, communities, and entire countries.
Child soldiers not only affect the child but also the family. Their sons or daughters are ripped from their arms, given a gun and told to kill. The emotional damage to a family is exponential. Often times their children are forced to kill their own family. After the children are rescued from being soldiers the families often do not want anything to do with the children or the children are left as orphans because they killed their own family. Child soldiers destroy individuals, families, communities, and entire countries.