Working with children can get frustrating. Loving a child is the best thing in the world. The grey area in between the frustration and love can get confusing.
Growing up, I always thought child abuse was physical. I thought that the extent of child abuse was bodily harm to a child. Then I learned about sexual abuse. And neglect. And psychological abuse. There are so many ways children can be put in danger.
The best known form of abuse is physical abuse. Physical abuse can be hitting, kicking, biting, restraining, and any other physically harmful actions. If it leaves a mark that lasts for hours, it's abuse. Some signs to look for are marks (red marks, scratches, bruises, etc.) especially on the face. If you are a parent that spanks, just make sure you know the line between discipline and abuse.
Sexual abuse is a scary thing. When an adult rapes, fondles, or does sexually stimulating activities with a child, this counts as sexual abuse. Some signs to look for are if a child has advanced knowledge of sexual behavior, regressive behaviors (bed wetting, thumb sucking, etc.), decrease in self-esteem, and difficulty sleeping alone at night.
Neglect is the most common form of abuse. Neglect can be as simple as leaving a child unsupervised, or not providing adequate food or clothing for the child. Many families are reported for living in unsafe, unclean houses. Some signs to look for are if a child tends to wear the same clothes everyday, is always hungry, is always unclean, or, like with physical abuse, is often covered in scratches or bruises.
The last type of abuse is psychological abuse. Psychological abuse can go two ways: excessive attention and verbal discipline (screaming, name calling, cursing, etc.), or inadequate attention (ignoring emotional needs). Children who have been psychologically abused may be persistently scared or withdrawn. Some kids might be verbally abusive to other kids.
I have worked with many kids over the years and seen the signs of neglect and psychological abuse. I've had to report parents. It's not easy. I care about every single child I've ever worked with, and it breaks my heart to see kids live in unfit conditions. It breaks my heart even more to have to report the conditions, in fear that the child may be sent away. Ultimately, though, the children's safety should be the priority.
If you suspect someone of abusing children, find out who you need to call. Call the police in extreme cases. If the child is not in immediate danger, the best thing to do is call your state's child abuse hotline, which you can find online.
