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What is Child Abuse
Abuse is physically hurting a child, sexually molesting a child.
Neglect is failing to provide proper care or depriving a child of support and affection.
When a child has been abused, he or she often indicates a number of physical and behavioural problems. But each child is different. Some will exhibit only one sign while others will exhibit several.
It is important to note that the indicators listed on this web site are not conclusive evidence that a child is experiencing abuse or neglect.
Verbal Abuse Verbal abuse includes yelling and shouting, calling children names, telling them they are no good, using threats, degrading sexist words and comments.
Physical Abuse This is any harm done to the child caused by action or omission of the caregiver. Injuries include: bruises, welts, cuts, fractures, burns or internal injuries. Physical abuse can be one or two isolated incidents or can occur over a long period of time.
Behavioural indicators that a child may be a victim of physical abuse: d Cannot recall how injuries occurred or offers an inconsistent explanation d Wary of adults d May cringe or flinch if touched unexpectedly d Infants may display a vacant stare d Extremely aggressive or extremely withdrawn d Indiscriminately seeks affection d Extremely compliant and/or eager to please
Physical indicators that a child may be a victim of physical abuse: d Injuries that are not consistent with explanation d Presence of several injuries that are in various stages of healing d Presence of various injuries over a period of time d Facial injuries in infants and preschool children d Injuries inconsistent with the child's age and developmental phase
Emotional Abuse This is when the actions of a parent deprive a child of a nurturing environment. These acts include constant yelling, demeaning remarks, rejecting, ignoring or isolating a child or terrorizing the child. Emotional abuse is often difficult to identify and prove.
Behavioural indicators that a child may be a victim of emotional abuse: d Severe depression d Extreme withdrawal or aggressiveness d Overly compliant, too well mannered, too neat or too clean d Extreme attention seeking d Displays extreme inhibition to play
Physical indicators that a child may be a victim of emotional abuse: d Bed wetting that is non-medical in origin d Frequent psychosomatic complaints, headaches, nausea, abdominal pains d Child fails to thrive
Neglect Neglect occurs because the caregiver does not know how to provide proper care. Neglect is when a caregiver fails to provide essential needs such as adequate food, sleep, safety, supervision, clothing, medical treatment, love and support for the child or leaving the child alone for long periods of time.
Behavioural indicators that a child may be a victim of neglect: d Pale, listless, unkempt d Frequent absence from school d Inappropriate clothing for the weather; dirty clothing d Engaged in delinquent acts, alcohol/drug use d Frequently forgets a lunch d Physical Indicators that a child may be a victim of neglect: d Poor hygiene d Unattended physical problems or medical needs; i.e. dental work, glasses
Sexual Abuse Includes the sexual exploitation of a child by an older person where the child is being used for a sexual purpose.
The criminal Code of Canada identifies a number of types of sexual abuse, including: d Sexual interference d Sexual abuse is any behaviour that forces, tricks, threatens or coerces a child into any sexual activity from touching children inappropriately or showing them pornographic pictures to sexual intercourse. d An invitation to sexually touch d Sexual exploitation of a young person d Parent or guardian procuring sexual activity from a child d Householder permitting sexual activity d Exposing genitals to a child d Incest
Behavioural indicators that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse: d Age inappropriate play with toys, self or others displaying explicit sexual acts d Age inappropriate sexually explicit drawing and/or descriptions d Bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge d Prostitution d Seductive Behaviours
Physical indicators that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse: d Unusual or excessive itching in the genital or anal area d Torn, stained or bloody underwear d Pregnancy d Injuries to the genital or anal areas, e.g. bruising, swelling or infection d Venereal disease
Indirect Abuse of Children Through Witnessing Violence d Children are hurt and confused by being told "your mother is no good" or that she deserves to be punished. The children may even be told to "come and see what your mother deserves" d Children who are abused or see others who are abused in the family learn that "might is right" and that pain and coercion are the way to get what you want. Children are damaged by being exposed to the message at home, at school or on TV d Children are forced into dishonesty by having to keep the family secret of violence and abuse, and suffer shame d Children may be used as spies, and interrogated about their mother's behaviour d Children may be used as hostages. The abuser may insist that the mother leaves some of the children at home if she goes out she that she cannot run away. He may tell her that if she leaves him she will never see the children again
Courtesy Children's Aid Society of Peel and Education Wife Assault |