Signs of Child Abuse
March 13, 2007
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Children rely on the adults in their lives for protection, well-being, and love. Child abuse fractures the trust relationship. Besides the trust issue, child abuse can result in permanent physical injuries, mental collapse, and death. Here are some signs to help you when trying to identify if a child you know has been abused.
Child abuse falls into four main categories: physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. Physical abuse occurs when someone endangers a child’s life by inflicting pain upon their body. The abuser does not have to be an adult although most child abusers are grown-ups. The abuser can be an older child in the home who may have been abused themselves. Some of the signs of physical abuse include, but are not exclusive to: unexplained bruises in the shape of hand prints or household items, cigarette burns, frequent broken bones, or ligature marks on wrists or ankles indicating the child has been restrained in some way.
Sexual abuse stunts a child’s ability to develop meaningful love relationships. What is reserved for consenting individuals who want to express their love is thrust upon an innocent for perverse purposes. A child who has been sexually abused may have knowledge of sexual matters that go way beyond their years. Children who become withdrawn socially or pull away when touched after once being outgoing could be dealing with abuse in the home. Children who are being sexually abused could develop sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) or become pregnant. If you notice underclothing that is blood-stained in a young child this should be reported.
Emotional abuse erodes the self-esteem of a child. Emotional abuse can be subtle and go unnoticed because there is no physical evidence of the attack. Stress on the body, however, will show eventually. A child may stop eating or overeat to cope. They could begin to abuse classmates, using the same words on others that were used on them. Any deviation from the usual behavior of a child should be watched closely for other signs that could indicate a pattern of abuse.
Neglect of a child is a general disregard for their welfare. Signs of neglect include but are not limited to: soiled clothing on the child, malnourishment, body odor, bad oral hygiene, or falling asleep in class. A child who is neglected receives no love in the traditional sense. There is probably no touching or hugging going on in the home. This type of child may not even know how to tie their own shoes or put their clothing on correctly because no one has taught them.
Child abuse is a serious matter. If you work in an environment where you are responsible for a child, it is your duty to report any signs that you think represent abuse to the proper authorities. Please, help protect our children.
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Posted by admin | Filed Under Parenting, Relationships
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