Child Abuse

This was another difficult week in our class. How awful that we have to discuss topics such as child abuse, but we must be aware and realize that it does happen more than we might know. I have learned a lot this week during our discussions in class. Did you know that in 80.8% of the cases of child abuse, a parent is the perpetrator? Did you know that babies and toddlers are the largest group of children that are abused?

 

 

 

 

 

I was shocked to learn of this information and realized that educators working with children on a daily basis have huge responsibility to watch for these children, know the signs, and report it. Do you know the signs of abuse? Do you know what steps to take if you suspect abuse? I did not know before my class, but I was grateful to learn this information. I feel that I must write about this not only so I can remember it, but hopefully be able to teach someone who might be able to help a child who is suffering. This information is from my class lecture. I did not write this, but recorded it to pass on to you.

 

First it is important to know the different types of abuse: Neglect, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, and Emotional/psychological abuse.

 

Do you know the signs of each one of these?

 

       NEGLECT:

• Repeated complaints of hunger
• Wearing dirty or unfitted clothes, often repeatedly wearing the same outfits
• Perpetually dirty hands, fingernails, hair, neck, face
• Inappropriate clothing for the weather
• Missing or forgetting supplies or homework
• Problems with social skills, specifically empathy
• Poor academic achievement
• Lack of response from caregivers to teachers' communication attempts (this is not a sign in and of itself)

      PHYSICAL ABUSE:

• Injuries that are not consistent with the explanation offered
• Presence of several injuries(3+) that are in various stages of healing
• Repeated injuries over a period of time
• Injuries that form a shape or pattern that may look like the object used to make the injury (examples: teeth, buckle, cigarette burns, etc.)
• Facial injuries in infants and preschool children
• Injuries not consistent with the child's age and development
• Bald patches on child's head where hair may have been torn out
• Repeated poisonings and/or accidents

      SEXUAL ABUSE:

• Difficulty walking or sitting-pain or itching in the genital area
• Withdrawal to infantile behavior
• Seems distracted or distant at odd times
• Has a sudden change in eating habits; can have trouble swallowing
• Sudden mood swings: rage, fear, insecurity, or withdrawal
• Leaves "clues" that seem likely to provoke a discussion about sexual issues
• Develops new or unusual fear of certain people or places
• Refuses to talk about a secret shared with an adult or older child
• Writes, draws, plays, or dreams of sexual or frightening images
• Talks about a new older friend
• Suddenly has money, toys, or other gifts without reason
• Thinks of self or body as repulsive or dirty or bad
• Exhibits adult-like sexual behaviors, language, and knowledge

      EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE:

 

      Signs in Child-

•  Being fearful of parent
• Saying they hate the parent
• Talking badly about themselves
• Seemingly emotionally immature when compared to peers
• Exhibiting sudden changes in speech, such as stuttering
• Experiencing sudden change in behavior, such as doing poorly in school

      Sign in the parent/caregiver-

• Showing little or no regard for the child
• Talking badly about the child
• Not touching or holding the child affectionately
• Not tending to the child's medical needs

In class we talked about how often times we need to use our judgement and listen to our instincts to know if something needs to be reported. My classmates and I talked about how you often need to see multiple signs in order to suspect something. If a child is wearing "hand me downs" from siblings that do not seem to fit quite right, it does not necessarily mean that child is neglected. We need to use proper judgement. It is important to note that teachers are responsible to report when they suspect a child is abused. Another part of our lesson that I feel is important to talk about is when you know a child is abused, what should you do and what should you not do.

 

      DO NOT:

• Interrogate the child to extract more information
• Get angry and say mean things about the person you suspect
• Make promises or guarantees of what will happen (This is important to keep the child's trust-you do not know exactly what will happen-Don't make empty promises)
• Only ask the parents and take their word for it

      DO:

• Tell them it is not their fault
• Tell them they have opportunity to share the information safely
• Follow your company/school's procedures
• Be an advocate regardless of worries about relationship with the child's family later
• Take swift action to report the incident and protect the child. Delays caused by not knowing what to do or failure to take action, contribute to the child's injury

 

Now that you know the signs and what to do or not to do, take action to pass this information to all those you know that have children in their lives. The children in this world need our help. They need us to be advocates for them. They need us to fight the fight that they are not able to fight. I hope that I will never have to use this information that I have learned, but if I need to, I know I will know what to do.

 

A video that might be helpful for all educators: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse

 

 

Resource: Farley, Laura. “Child Abuse and Neglect” PowerPoint presentation. Brigham Young University of Idaho,
Rexburg, Idaho. 13 Nov 2015.