Icelandic Children's Ombudsman: It's Misleading to Say Young Children Commit Violence

Salvör Nordal, Iceland's Children's Ombudsman, has challenged the common narrative surrounding children's behavior, arguing that it is misleading to label the actions of young children as 'violence.' Speaking on the podcast Dagmál, Nordal emphasized that children facing difficulties or behavioral challenges are not perpetrators of violence but are responding to circumstances beyond their control.

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It is often a very harsh discussion about children. Children who get into some kind of trouble or have behavioral problems, it is often said that they commit violence.

Nordal expressed strong disapproval of discussions that frame children's problematic behavior as increased violence. She believes these children are struggling to cope with their school environments and lack adequate support. When a child loses control due to these pressures, resulting in harm to others, Nordal asserts that it is inaccurate to characterize this as the child 'committing violence,' especially when considering children as young as preschool age.

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I really dislike it when people talk about increased violence among children, when we are really talking about children who cannot cope with the situations they find themselves in at school.

She stressed that the responsibility lies with adults to create environments where children can thrive. "It is our responsibility that they achieve such success or feel good in the circumstances," Nordal stated. She views the ongoing discussion about increased violence among children as a symptom of a broader, long-standing issue: a lack of effective solutions and support systems.

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It is our responsibility that they achieve such success or feel good in the circumstances.

Nordal highlighted the extensive waiting lists for services and the fact that many children do not receive the necessary support they require. She believes these issues are interconnected, with the same underlying problems manifesting in various ways. Understanding these connections is crucial for addressing the challenges children face effectively.

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We are often talking about the same problem, it just has many faces and appears in various ways. I think we need to see the bigger picture in these things.