Signs of Child Abuse
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Look For The Signs
There is a large and increasing problem that more and more people seem to be ignoring, Child Abuse. According to Newton, "1,500 children die from abuse each year." This number only represents those accounted and reported; however, many cases go unreported. Some people do not want to get involve, where others feel that it is not their business to pry, and yet others think that there is nothing wrong. Nonetheless, we are allowing innocent children, who live in fear and/or can not speak for themselves to endure abuse that most adults would not live through, let alone our children.
There are clear cut signs and risk factors to look for when our intuitions scream abuse. If a parent has been abused in the past, the parent is more likely to abuse their child, unexplained bruising or injuries that are unexplained, a sudden withdrawal and shyness from others, comes early to school and stays late (does NOT want to go home), is absent from activities, steals or begs food from others, states that there is no one at home to take care of them, has difficulty walking or sitting, and a sudden change of mood, and broken bones in a child less than one year of age are all good signs that there is something going wrong with the child's life. Some of the abusers feel the child is evil, has a negative relationship with the child, does not talk to the child but AT the child, abuse alcohol or recreational drugs, severely limits the time the child spends with other people, and the abuser seems indifferent to the child. These are all signs of child abuse whether it is physical, emotional, neglect, or sexual abuse.
Child abuse is under reported. Although there are statistics that can be found anywhere, these numbers are taken from those who report the abuse. It is thought that these estimates are low and that there may be up to 40% more children being abused that are unknown. Children live in these situations without telling anyone for fear of more punishment, more torture, and more beatings. They live in fear; and yet, hope that someone will notice and save them from their private hell.
Anyone can help a child in this situation. It's not only medical professionals, emergency services, teachers or counselors that can report child abuse; anyone can report it and allow the child to be freed from their torture. Let's try to make this a world where children can run and play happily without the fear of abuse riding in the back of their mind. Remember that the children we are abusing today will be running the world tomorrow.
Resources:
Newton, C.J. 2001. "Child Abuse: An Overview."
http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/child-abuse.html
"Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect: Signs and Symptoms." 2006. Child Welfare Information Gateway.
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actually, I think at least in the U.S., most people think that if someone is weak enough to get attacked, child or adult, they deserve it and pointing out that you're being attacked is an attack on them by "pretending to be a victim" to make them look bad.
I've seen a lot of this going around.
In fact, every pedophile who is caught blames the child for either telling, or being so tempting or whatever. It's an abuser mindset, an absolute incapactiy to take responsibility for their own choices. They consistently blame the victim, often with the support of enabling friends and family.
These people don't seem to mature out of it nor is therapy effective. It's a seemingly permanent mental defect, possibly just pure evil, if such a things exists.
This is such a sad topic and one that bothers me everyday I turn on the news to hear another story of a child's death.
My heart just breaks and I wonder why no one was able to do anything, how did they not notice? and if they did, how come the system wasn't able to prevent this?
There was a story on the news here not too long ago where they foster dad killed a 16 year old boy that had been placed with their family.
because people wish to be on the "winning team" and they bet on who they perceive to be the strongest or most powerful. we admire power in this country.
many people will watch abuse take place every single day in work or online environments or with their neighbors and hedge their bet to see which side might come out ahead so they can be on the right "team" when it wins. others come straight in on the side of the abusers. pretty nasty stuff.
I think when it comes to a child and an adult , it's obvious who is the most powerful.
I'd agree. But you notice our courts continue to return these children to homes in which they are abused? Look how many adults, teachers, neighbors... watch and never say a word to anyone or even lie to cover for the adult, like women with live in boyfriends who abuse their children. "loyalty"
It's appalling.
showing "loyalty" to an abuser is just another word for being an abuser by proxy.
both sides are equally guilty. they prosecuted some slug of a mother for covering for her boyfriend to the police after he shot her 4 year old child in the face and killed him.
they need to keep prosecuting these "loyal" friends and mates.
It is hard to read your comments and yet know that many of them are true! As a mandated reported, I find it hard to report what I feel is abuse and then have the authorities write me a letter saying that they do not agree. When I have seen mistreatment myself. Maybe people feel, "What's the use?"
This is an excellent article and I agree with Hanalai that this is an appalling problem and we all should take steps to do something about it.
It saddens us but still the solution is underground to put such
happenings into an end.
As one who worked in a Large pediatric trauma center, I've see these innocent bystanders more often than anyone would like. It is sad to think that someone who is that angry can take their frustrations off on children and not on someone their own size.
I believe that ANYONE who sees a child in this situation is responsible for reporting it.
An innocent child does not need any kind of mistreatment. It is unfortunately a large problem, and like Hanalai says many times even after reporting nothing is done about it - that is the worst part.
abuse is severe and I know, I am being physically and emotionally abused. My family tells me I play a roll in it that leads up to the abuse. I want to tell someone accept my friends but I dont want anyone to get in trouble because my great great aunt has just moved in and she needs someone to take care of her and if someone gets in trouble and gets locked up my great great aunt would suffer. I ranaway once and know they say that they support me(like I believe it). I gave them 2 chances to work it out and their failing. Im 11 turning 12 and if someone could tell me what I should do please tell me.
Cindy, I am so sorry that you are haveing this happen to you!! I am sorry that I have taken so long to write back!!!! My father died recently and I have not checked my mail for awhile.
You can anonymously report to any hotline. You need to tell a teacher that you can trust. At this time, you do not need to worry about your great great aunt, there are protective agencies for her that will take care of her. You are not to blame for other people's anger - they are ABUSIVE and it's not o.k.
Please, don't give up! You are very brave but you do not need to endure this.
Please write to me again. A special email address that you can reach me is: Jesusandme.stephanie@gmail.com
Its terrible nowadays. It would take someone with a lot of guts to report anything these days. I've known that all too well when I was a kid. I mean kids would show up to school with an obvious sign of abuse. They were instructed by parents to lied that they fell down the stairs. Its sad...
I kinda know what cindy is going through,cause I was abused when I was younger. I was abused for 7 years before I got the nerve to tell someone. I sympathize with you cindy cause I've been through it. may God bless you cindy and I'll pray for you.
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twist3d_proph3cy 4 years ago
I DO THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE TO SCARED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR JUST SEE IT AS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I THINK THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEM.