What is Child Abuse?

To help prevent child abuse, you need to understand what it is. It's any mistreatment of a child that results in harm or injury. There are four basic types of child abuse, though children often experience more than one kind of abuse.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse includes actions such as beating, burning, or punching a child.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse may involve criticizing, insulting, rejecting, or withholding love from a child.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse includes rape, touching or fondling, or involving a child in pornography.

Neglect

Neglect includes failure to provide for a child's basic physical, medical, emotional, or educational needs. Leaving a young child home alone or failing to provide needed medical care may also be considered neglect.

Know the signs of abuse

Children who are abused may show physical and behavioral signs, or they may show sudden changes in in their behavior or school performance. These signs don't prove that children are being abused, but they could be a signal that the children or their families need help.

When children talk about being abused, take them seriously. Take steps to get help!

General Signs of Abuse Abused children may seem: Nervous around adults or afraid of certain adults Reluctant to go home (coming to school early or staying late, for example) Very passive and withdrawn-or aggressive and disruptive Tired a lot, or they may complain of nightmares or not sleeping well Fearful and anxious signs of neglect Missing school a lot Begging for or stealing money or food Lacking needed medical or dental care Being frequently dirty Using alcohol or other drugs Saying there is no one at home to take care of him or her

signs of physical abuse unexplained burns, bruises, black eyes or other injuries apparent fear of a parent or caretaker faded bruises or healing injuries after missing school signs of Sexual abuse difficulty walking or sitting, or other indications of injury in the genital area sexual knowledge or behavior beyond what is normal for the child's age running away from home signs of emotional abuse Acting overly mature or immature for the child's age Extreme changes in behavior Delays in physical or emotional development Attempted suicide Lack of emotional attachment to the parent