Types of Child Abuse

Child Neglect

Many people fail to recognize the term child neglect as one of the types of child abuse. What is child neglect? Basically, when a child's guardian fails to provide the basic comforts and needs of life, including food, shelter, clothing, and supervision, he or she could be charged with child neglect. While a guardian may not physically or sexually abuse a child, he is still guilty of neglect if he fails to care for that child in a safe and nurturing environment.

Child neglect can encompass a number of factors, including physical, emotional, and even educational neglect. Physical neglect might involve refusing to provide adequate food, shelter, abandonment, and even health care. Emotional neglect may involve exposing children to unsavory and even illegal behaviors, such as drug and alcohol abuse. It can also involve a refusal to nurture or show love toward a child. A parent or guardian may be accused of educational neglect if she refuses to take responsibility for a child's education.

Signs

A child who is experiencing neglect may exhibit the following signs:

• Frequent absences from school
• Dirty and unkempt appearance
• Never wants to go home
• Lacks adequate clothing
• Doesn’t have money for food

What to Do

If you suspect that a child is experiencing neglect, you should contact authorities immediately. Those who can investigate the situation include the Department of Human Resources (DHR), your local police department, and the administration and staff of the school the child attends.

Sexual Abuse

Any sexual act, sexually motivated behavior, and sexual exploitation of children can be regarded as sexual abuse. A person who exposes a child to pornography or exhibits indecent exposure toward a child is guilty of sexual abuse even if that person never physically touches that child. Sexual abuse that involves physical contact includes fondling, penetration, and exploiting a child through prostitution and pornography.

Unfortunately, sexual abuse is not only committed by strangers. The most widely reported acts of sexual abuse against a child involve family members and family friends.

Signs

A child who has experienced sexual abuse may exhibit the following symptoms:

• Change in emotional behavior
• Experiences nightmares
• Begins to wet the bed
• Exhibits discomfort in the pelvic area
• Exhibits a change in appetite
• Experiences personality changes
• Appears to have an abnormal knowledge of sex
• Runs away

What to Do

If a child reports sexual abuse to you, take it seriously. Many times, adults fail to take an accusation of sexual abuse seriously, especially if the perpetrator is a family member or friend. Seek professional help immediately, and don't wait until you've found evidence to support the child's accusations. Report your suspicions to your local police department, DHR, and the child's school officials.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is often difficult to determine, at least until a pattern of physical abuse has been established. The evidence of physical abuse often involves bruising and broken bones, and these may be explained away as accidental. In some cases, the abuse was intentional, and in other cases, the abuse may be perceived as accidental. No matter how the abuse was administered, however, child abuse is a crime.

Signs

Physical abuse may result from hitting, punching, pinching, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, burning, choking, and stabbing. Signs of physical abuse may include the following:

• Unexplained bruises, cuts, sprains, and broken bones
• Exhibits fear of adults
• Withdrawing behavior

What to Do

If you see any signs of physical abuse, including fading bruises, report your suspicions to the local authorities, DHR, and the administration at your child's school. Even if you don't have absolute proof, you should report your fears. You may be saving a child's life.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is probably the trickiest of all the types of child abuse because there are no physical signs. Emotional abuse can involve a withholding of love, terrorizing a child, isolating someone, ridiculing and belittling a child, and exposing a child to illicit behaviors.

Signs

Recognize that emotional abuse can be executed at the hands of anyone who comes into contact with a child, including parents, siblings, friends, and even schoolmates. The signs of emotional abuse may not be obvious, but some signs that could indicate a problem include the following:

• Extreme behavior changes
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Lack of emotional maturity
• Attempts at suicide

What to Do

Although you may be absolutely certain that a child is experiencing emotional abuse, do not attempt to counsel that child unless you are a licensed professional. Instead, seek professional help. Document the behaviors that indicate emotional abuse, and share this documentation with a licensed professional, your local police department, and the administration at the child's school.

More Info

For more information on child abuse, check out the following sites:

• Childabuse.org
• Medline Plus
• Childabuse.com
• Prevent Child Abuse.