Micaela Castro

Dr. Kellie Young

Guiding Young Children
Development of a Stressor File

What should you know about child abuse? First off, child abuse is very common around

the world today. There are four major types of maltreatment definitions within the state

definitions of abuse: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Child abuse

and neglect can happen anywhere. There are two distinct types of abuse and neglect: familial

abuse or neglect which occurs in a school-age childs home, or instructional abuse or neglect

which occurs outside the home in community or private settings. 1There are many signs to

recognize that the child may give which are signs of abuse. Abuse effects each child differently,

but it effects each child tremendously. There are protective factors which should be learned to

prevent abuse. According to the Healthy Children, approximately three million cases of child

abuse and neglect involving almost 5.5 million children are reported each year. The majority of

cases reported to Child Protective Services involves neglect, followed by physical and sexual

abuse. 2

Through research I have learned about six different types of abuse which would harm

children. The first I will be talking about is physical abuse, this is the nonaccidentical physical

injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking,

hitting, burning, or any harming of a child which is done by a parent, caregiver, or a person who

is loved by the child. This is considered to be abuse regardless of whether the caregiver meant to

do it. Another type of abuse is neglect, this is an abuse which is the failure of a grown-up to
1 THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, and U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. "Keeping School-Age Children Safe: Introduction to Child Abuse and Neglect
for School-Age Program Staff." Virtual Lab School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

2 "What to Know about Child Abuse." HealthyChildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics,

2015. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.
provide for a childs basic needs. Neglect may be in the case of; failure to provide food, shelter,

necessary medical, educational, appropriate emotional care, and lack of being there. Sexual

abuse is any sexual activity that a child cannot comprehend. Abandonment is very similar to

neglect. It is generally considered abandonment when the grown-ups identity is unknown from

those around them. Circumstances that are considered abuse or neglect may be the element

which children or their grown-ups take part in substance abuse. This is selling, distributing, or

giving out illegal drugs. Even selling drugs or drinking alcohol. Often times those parents may

be alcoholics and become very angry and abusive both verbally and physically.

In some cases, it is hard to even suspense that a child may be abused. There are many

signs that can be a signal for the presence of child abuse or neglect. Be aware. Open your mouth

and make sure to talk to your children early to make sure that they know what is around them.

Children are often afraid to speak up when they are mistreated, because they think they will be

blamed or that no one will believe them. Sometimes they even remain silent because they fear

that they will get hurt by the one who has abused them. Dont be so quick to overlook those

signs. Look for behavior changes and school performance changes. For those who are loved ones

or school attendants watch out to see if the child has received help for physical or medical

problems brought to the parents attentions. The child becomes watchful for everything, jumps at

everything, such as something bad is bad to happen. There are even more obvious signs of abuse

such as unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes. The child may even begin

to continue to abuse animals or pets. Trauma is a big sign of this abuse. What is trauma? It is any

event that threatens someones well-being or the well-being of a loved one. Some signs of this

include: 3

3 Child Welfare Information Gateway. "Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or
Neglect." Factsheet for Families (2013): 1-14. Childrens Bureau. Web.
 Night terrors or a fear of going to sleep
Bedwetting
Anxiety, confusion, agitation, temper, tantrums, or other issues with bodily

function controls
Self-mutilation, purging, or vomiting

Child abuse and neglect can have lifelong implications. While the physical wounds may heal,

there are several long-term consequences of experiencing the trauma of abuse or neglect.

Resilience is what helps the child overcome. Maltreatment children are often at risk of

experiencing cognitive delays and emotional difficulties and others. Trauma often takes a turn on

the nervous system and immune system development, putting children who have been maltreated

at a higher risk for health problems as adults.4

There are many protective factors which can play into preventing abuse. Abusers often

try to earn the trust of potential victims and their families. This allows them to more easily gain

time alone with the children. Abusers are drawn to settings where they can easily gain access to

children, school, sports, leagues, clubs, etc.5 Parents should monitor their childrens internet use.

It is very risky, but yet rather be safe than sorry. So parents, you want the truth. It is open, honest

communication that may be the best abuse prevention tip to give. Communication early and

often, about boundaries and abuse may decrease your childs vulnerability to abuse and increase

the chance they will tell you if something was to happen in the future. It allows them to feel

4 Child Welfare Information Gateway. "What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the
Signs and Symptoms." Factsheet for Families (2013): 1-10. Childrens Bureau. Web.

5 An Integrated Systems Model for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse. (2003): 1-5. Prevent
Child Abuse New York. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.
comfortable and allows them to know that you are there. Be interested and stay interested in their

lives. Teach your children that its your job to protect them, and that you can protect them only

if they tell you when something is wrong. Explain that people who hurt children may tell the

children to keep it a secret. They may tell the children their parents will not believe them. They

might threaten to hurt the parents if the child shares the secrets. Teach your children that adults

who say that are wrong, and that your child can share anything with you.6 The child should

share anything and everything with you.

6 An Integrated Systems Model for Preventing Child Sexual Abuse.