The violence research is useful because understanding how exposure to various types of violence affects children and what best enables them to cope can point to important considerations when trying to help children cope with exposure to domestic violence in particular. In addition, many families experiencing domestic assault are exposed to other types of violence as well. Exposure to violence on multiple levels can affect the parents’ behavior and can compound the effects on children. The literature on family violence identifies adverse effects on children’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. The effects of exposure to violence are likely to depend on varied factors, including the age at which the trauma occurred, the supports in the environment, and the child’s characteristics. Research on crucial factors contributing to resilience consistently a small number of crucial protective factors for development: a caring adult, a community safe haven, and a child’s own internal resources. The most important resource that protects children from the negative effects of exposure to violence is a strong relationship with a competent, caring, positive adult, most often a parent. However, when parents are themselves witnesses to violence of victims of violence, they may have difficulty fulfilling this role. Future research should focus on factors that lead to and mitigate violence in high-risk situations and on several other issues. Photographs, summaries of specific studies, and 63 reference notes (Author abstract modified)