Signs of Child Abuse
Recognizing and reporting child abuse is the first step in getting help for an abused child.
Possible indicators of child abuse or neglect:
- Unexplained injuries
- Changes in emotional behavior, including withdrawal, fear, anxiety or aggression
- Fear of going home with a certain person
- Changes in school performance or frequent absences from school
- Changes in sleeping patterns, nightmares
- Regressive behaviors such as fear of dark, fear of strangers or loss of acquired language
- Demonstrates bizarre or unusual sexual knowledge or behaviors
- Presence of a sexually transmitted disease or infection
- Disregard for physical hygiene
- Sudden changes in eating
- Begs for or steals food
- Lacks medical or dental care
- Risk-taking behaviors, such as alcohol or drug use, running away
- If a child tells you about abuse, listen. Believe. Children rarely lie about abuse. Reassure the child it’s not his/her fault. Report the abuse to the authorities.