CHILD ABUSE

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE ?

 • Child abuse happens when someone caring for
CHILD a child hurts a child’s feeling or body.
• It can happen to boys or girls in any family.
ABUSE • Often, hurt feelings (or emotional trauma) las
long after a hurt body was healed.
 Adverse
Childhood
Experiences 
 EMOTIONA
L ABUSE

TYPES OF
SEXUAL CHILD
CHILD ABUSE NEGLECT
ABUSE

PHYSICAL
ABUSE
 EMOTIONAL
ABUSE
• Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating
• Calling names and making negative comparisons to others
• Telling a child they’re “no good,” “worthless,” “bad,” or “a
mistake”
• Frequent yelling, threatening, or bullying
• Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving them the
silent treatment
• Limiting physical contact with a child—no hugs, kisses, or
other signs of affection
• Exposing a child to violence against others, whether it is
against the other parent, a sibling, or even a pet
 CHILD NEGLECT
• Failing to provide for a child’s basic needs, which include
adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision.
• Not easy to spot.
• Parents inability to care for a child, in cases of serious
illness or injury, or untreated depression or anxiety.
• Alcohol or drug abuse may seriously impair judgment and
the ability to keep a child safe.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
•Involves physical harm or injury to the child.
•Deliberate attempt to hurt the child or excessive
physical punishment.
•Physically abusive parents insist abuse makes children
behave. 
•Difference between using physical punishment to
discipline and physical abuse.
SEXUAL ABUSE
•Complicated form of abuse because of its layers of
guilt and shame.
•Sexual abuse doesn’t always involve body contact.
•Exposing a child to sexual situations or material is
sexually abusive, whether or not touching is involved.
WARNING SIGNS
Warning signs of emotional abuse

EXCESSIVELY WITHDRAWN, SHOWS EXTREMES IN BEHAVIOR DOESN’T SEEM TO BE ATTACHED TO ACTS EITHER INAPPROPRIATELY
FEARFUL, OR ANXIOUS ABOUT (EXTREMELY COMPLIANT, THE PARENT OR CAREGIVER ADULT (TAKING CARE OF OTHER
DOING SOMETHING WRONG DEMANDING, PASSIVE, CHILDREN) OR INAPPROPRIATELY
AGGRESSIVE) INFANTILE (THUMB-SUCKING,
THROWING TANTRUMS)
Warning signs of child neglect

CLOTHES ARE ILL-FITTING, HYGIENE IS CONSISTENTLY UNTREATED ILLNESSES AND IS FREQUENTLY IS FREQUENTLY LATE OR
FILTHY, OR INAPPROPRIATE BAD (UNBATHED, MATTED PHYSICAL INJURIES UNSUPERVISED OR LEFT MISSING FROM SCHOOL
FOR THE WEATHER AND UNWASHED HAIR, ALONE OR ALLOWED TO
NOTICEABLE BODY ODOR) PLAY IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS
Warning signs of physical abuse

FREQUENT INJURIES OR IS ALWAYS WATCHFUL AND INJURIES APPEAR TO HAVE A SHIES AWAY FROM TOUCH, WEARS INAPPROPRIATE
UNEXPLAINED BRUISES, WELTS, “ON ALERT,” AS IF WAITING PATTERN SUCH AS MARKS FLINCHES AT SUDDEN CLOTHING TO COVER UP
OR CUTS FOR SOMETHING BAD TO FROM A HAND OR BELT MOVEMENTS, OR SEEMS INJURIES, SUCH AS LONG-
HAPPEN AFRAID TO GO HOME SLEEVED SHIRTS ON HOT DAYS
Warning signs of sexual abuse

TROUBLE WALKING OR DISPLAYS KNOWLEDGE OF MAKES STRONG EFFORTS DOESN’T WANT TO AN STD OR PREGNANCY,
SITTING SEXUAL ACTS TO AVOID A SPECIFIC CHANGE CLOTHES IN ESPECIALLY UNDER THE
INAPPROPRIATE FOR THEIR PERSON, WITHOUT AN FRONT OF OTHERS OR AGE OF 14
AGE, OR EVEN SEDUCTIVE OBVIOUS REASON PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL
BEHAVIOR ACTIVITIES

RUNS AWAY FROM HOME

HOW TO HELP AN ABUSED
OR NEGLECTED CHILD
 • Remain calm
• You may be the first person with whom this individual has
discussed these feelings. 
• Listen
• Reassure them that help is available
Tips for  • Do not judge

"The Talk" • Do not interrogate

• Reassure the child that he/she did nothing wrong
• Provide constant supervision
• Remove means for self-harm if this is a concern
• Follow the next steps for reporting the child abuse or
neglect
REPORTING CHILD
ABUSE
 REPORTING ABUSE

POLICE STATION HOSPITAL CHILD PROTECTIVE

SERVICES