Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

Collage of teacher in classroom, doctors office and daycare

Report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Social Services (DSS) county office or the local law enforcement agency

It is important to recognize high-risk situations and the signs and symptoms of child maltreatment.

If you suspect a child is being harmed, reporting those suspicions may protect him or her and get help for the family. Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. Reporting your concerns is not making an accusation, rather, it is a request for an investigation and assessment to determine if help is needed.

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway – the federal information service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – the following signs may signal the presence of the four major types of child maltreatment: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse.

Signs exhibited by the child

Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention
Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
Lacks adult supervision
Is overly compliant, passive or withdrawn
Comes to school or other activities early, stays late and does not want to go home
Is reluctant to be around a particular person
Discloses maltreatment

Signs exhibited by the parent

Denies the existence of – or blames the child for – the child’s problems in school or at home
Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless or burdensome
Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of the parent’s emotional needs
Shows little concern for the child

Mother saying goodbye to daughter as she leaves for school

Signs of physical abuse

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:

Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones or black eyes
Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school
Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home
Shrinks at the approach of adults
Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver
Abuses animals or pets

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury, or provides an explanation that is not consistent with the injury
Describes the child as evil or in some other very negative way
Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
Has a history of abuse as a child
Has a history of abusing animals or pets

Signs of neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Appears to be indifferent to the child
Seems apathetic or depressed
Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner
Is abusing alcohol or other drugs

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:

Is frequently absent from school
Begs or steals food or money
Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations or glasses
Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
Abuses alcohol or other drugs
States that there is no one at home to provide care

Signs of sexual abuse

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child’s contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex
Is secretive and isolated
Is jealous or controlling with family members

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:

Has difficulty walking or sitting
Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
Reports nightmares or bedwetting
Experiences a sudden change in appetite
Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
Runs away
Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Attaches very quickly to strangers or new adults in their environment

Teacher-at-school-helping-children-in-art-class

Signs of emotional abuse

Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Constantly blames, belittles or berates the child
Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s problems
Overtly rejects the child

Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when the child:

Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity or aggression
Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)
Is delayed in physical or emotional development
Has attempted suicide
Reports a lack of attachment to the parent