Child abuse – characteristics
The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family, but when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination, you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse. The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect.
The Child:
- Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance.
- Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention.
- Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes.
- Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen.
- Lacks adult supervision.
- Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn.
- Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home.
The Parent:
- Shows little concern for the child.
- Denies the existence of – or blames the child for – the child’s problems in school or at home.
- Asks teachers or other caretakers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves.
- Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome.
- Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve.
- Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs.
The Parent and Child:
- Rarely touch or look at each other.
- Consider their relationship entirely negative.
- State that they do not like each other.
Types of Abuse
The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect, but these types of abuse rarely occur alone. They often occur in combination and none of these types of abuse should be ignored.
- Physical abuse
- Neglect
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
*Information on child abuse provided courtesy of http://www.excap.org.
