Child abuse is a life-scarring experience for a child, not to mention the emotional trauma for the family. Feelings of shame, guilt or even confusion prevent young children from informing their parents about the event. This reluctance could also be a result of any threat from the abuser, and that’s the reason why parents should be able to recognise the signs of abuse. It can make a huge difference to a child’s life if she knows that the parents understand her feelings.
The physical, psychological or sexual maltreatment or neglect of a child is termed as child abuse. This can happen at the hands of a parent, a close relative or a caregiver and has a significant detrimental effect on the child’s psyche. The highest risk of child abuse is to children who are five years and below. When both parents are out to work, the child is often entrusted to the care of a babysitter, a crèche or a family member. In this case, it is natural for the parents to be concerned about the child’s safety.
There are many ways in which a child may be maltreated or abused, and these include sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
Abuse of children can occur in several circumstances. Here are some scenarios where a child may be victimised:
Children who are part of households where there is frequent domestic violence are prone to becoming victims of abuse themselves. Men who abuse their female partners are responsible for abusing the children in their homes too.
Parents who have a history of alcohol and drug abuse can be responsible for child abuse. Dependence of substance abuse is one of the major causes of child abuse and maltreatment which includes physical abuse and intentional neglect. Alcohol or drug-abusing parent is more likely to initiate child abuse with kids of five years or below.
A parent’s untreated mental illness is a common cause of child abuse. Manic depression or any other illness of the mind can become a prime cause for the parents to be unavailable for the child. A mother may remain withdrawn from her kids or in extreme cases suspect that the child plotting against her. A parent’s suffering is often the cause of subjecting a child to abuse.
Most parents are naturally gifted while caring for their children, but few may not be able to manage their physical and emotional needs adequately. Many parents would often equate disciplining children with abusing them and will need counselling to understand the role of a parent in a better manner.
Many children face psychological mistreatment when their caregivers or parents are under stress. Parents find it difficult to deal with the emotional needs of a child especially when they face stressful situations. Divorces, relationship issues, financial worries and job-related problems can lead to parents meting out abuse to their children.
There is always a nagging fear and doubt about a child’s safety in the minds of parents who are unable to be around her. It is always easy to ignore or overlook signs of abuse especially when you do not know what to look for. Check with your child if anything unusual has happened to him or her during the day, while at school or in daycare. Ask if she feels uncomfortable or frightened about a particular situation or person. You should also keep an eye on any physical or emotional changes you notice. Signs of injury to the body or constant crying and fussiness are direct pointers of your child being an abuse victim.
Children are not always able to talk about the abuse they may be facing, either because they are too young to vocalise or recognise it, or because they don’t feel comfortable sharing it. Watching out for the signs listed below can help alert a parent or caregiver about a potential problem.
Watch out for sudden changes in behaviour at home or daycare and a dip in performance at school. A child who’s being physically abused will be reluctant to go to daycare or spend time with a particular babysitter. Check if her body is covered with bruises or injury marks which cannot be explained rationally. If there are repeated bite marks or burn marks, it is a definite warning sign about the child being subjected to physical abuse.
An emotionally abused child may display various behavioural changes that are extreme. She could rebuff a parent’s show of affection or can become extremely attached and cling to them. When an excessively talkative child turns quiet or vice versa, it indicates that she is disturbed emotionally and needs emotional support from parents. A parent should watch out for unexplained stomach aches or headaches or loss of appetite.
A child who has been subjected to sexual abuse will face intense emotional as well as physical trauma. Not only will you be able to ascertain this from the child’s body language, but also from the marks, however minor on the child’s body. She can also demonstrate difficulty while sitting or walking as a result of pain in the anal or genital area (if genital penetration has taken place).
Child abuse and neglect often leave long-term scars on the child, ones that are difficult to erase from the mind and the body too. It can have a massive impact on the way the child will manage relationships during adulthood and can dent their self-confidence. Children are unable to function normally at school, college or work when they grow up:
A caregiver can ensure proper healing to help a child to overcome the trauma of abuse and ensure no future abuse takes place:
The implementation of the following rules can ensure prevention of child abuse:
The individual who has abused a child has to be held accountable for the act and this is one of the primary solutions to child abuse. Getting professional help from people specialized in this area is the next step. One should immediately report the child abuse case to the nearest police station if the abuser does not own up to his act.
Child abuse is a serious and life-threatening matter that needs to be tackled in a sensitive manner with urgency. It can be traumatic for the child involved and all the necessary steps to address the situation should be taken. If the signs are recognised well within time, it is possible to avert major trauma in the future.