Parents need to know what to do if their children have been emotionally scarred or traumatised by the effects of gun violence.This will be the message from The Family Centre as the charity hosts a one-off seminar for concerned moms and dads of primary school age children.‘Community violence: the impact on children’ is being hosted as part of the Government’s Community Education and Development Programme. It will be held at TN Tatem Middle School in Warwick tonight from 6pm.Charity staff want to alert parents to the impact of Bermuda’s spiralling gun crime to ensure children are not suffering in silence.The charity wanted to do what it could to help “because of the issues facing Bermuda at this time.” Five men have so far been shot dead in Bermuda this year, and there have been a total of 16 murders since May 2009.Dr. Stephanie Guthman, The Family Centre’s director of specialised training and assessment, said: “Acts of violence in Bermuda are frightening our young people.“They may feel preoccupied with worry that they or their friends and loved-ones are in danger.“They will look to adults for information and guidance.”The seminar has been organised as Bermuda’s children are now growing up surrounded by violence. Children may have heard gunshots in their communities, they may have had relatives targeted by gangs and could be being encouraged to join gangs themselves.A crowd of children witnessed the murder of Kimwandae Walker when he was shot at a Good Friday kite flying event last April.Tonight’s seminar will see parents being taught how to talk to children about their fears and address the issue of violence in the community. Telltale signs that a child is distressed can include a lack of concentration or disruptive behaviour.Family Centre staff will also explain how parents can encourage children to make safe choices and help their youngsters to manage stress.Staff believe that by establishing a sense of routine in the lives of young children gives them “a sense of security.”The reality that violence is having on our children was recently highlighted in a hard-hitting documentary about single mums living below the poverty line. ‘Poverty In Paradise’, filmed by Lucinda Spurling, premiered at the Bermuda Docs Film Festival last month.In one poignant scene of the movie a young boy holds a framed picture of his uncle and tells the camera: “He was hit by the gun and the bullet. He got shot by those two things.”Sheelagh Cooper, President of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said: “The impact that violence is having on our children is most definitely a problem.“This is now something we have to deal with on a daily basis. Children can be traumatised and their stress levels can be quite high. They can go through quite a lot at a young age.“We’re really pleased The Family Centre is doing this.”For further information about the course for parents visit www.tfc.bm or contact the Family Centre’s school and community based team on 223-1116.