Experts have now expanded the physical child abuse definition. They now define it as a non-accidental injury resulting from hitting, whipping, beating, biting, kicking, or anything that harms a child’s body.
Normal Warning Signs
Frequent physical injuries Injuries that do not seem to fit the explanation given by the parents or child
Conflicting explanations that do not fit the injuries or injuries attributed to accidents that could not have occurred given the child’s age.
Habitual absence from or lateness to school without a credible reason.
Parents may keep a child at home until physical evidence of abuse has healed.
Awkward movements or difficulty walking; may suggest that the child is in pain or suffers from the aftereffects of repeated injuries.
Wearing clothing that excessively covers the body or is not weather appropriate
Child flinches with sudden movements
Specific Warning Signs
Bruising of padded areas such as the buttocks, thighs, genitalia, stomach, chest, and cheeks are concerning. It takes more force to cause bruising than over bony surfaces such as the forehead, knees, shins, elbows, etc (hard bones impacts hard surface = normal bruising).
Protected areas such as ears, neck, and upper lip are more difficult to injure
Patterned injuries such as loop marks, slap marks, or grab marks are highly suspicious.
Burns, without some evidence of withdrawal (splashes, uneven, hands, etc.)
Head injuries are the most common cause of child abuse-related deaths
Multiple injuries with different stages of healing
Fractures with multiple lesions
The Long-Term Impacts of Child Abuse
The age at which the abuse occurs influences how the injuries affect the child. Infant victims have the most significant risk of suffering long-term physical problems. The longer the abuse continues, the greater the impact on the child, regardless of age. The physical pain from abuse will eventually pass. Still, the emotional pain will last long after the visible wounds have healed.
How to Identify Exploitation and Abuse
Through our interactive training, Watchful Eye, we simplify how to identify and prevent child exploitation. No matter your skill level, you can learn to recognize behavior patterns and subtle indicators through this life-saving training.
Clergy sexual abuse is a form of exploitation. Our mission has always been to prevent and stop child exploitation of all forms. Our work may sometimes appear disjointed, but that is not the case. All forms of exploitation are CONNECTED. A prevention and early intervention approach demands that we look at child sex abuse (CSA)…
The Adverse Adulthood Experiences Test (AAE) is a test inspired by the nationally recognized Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) on the long-term impacts of childhood trauma. The AAE is similarly designed to measure adverse experiences within adulthood. Also, a history of adverse childhood experiences can compound and escalate adverse adult experiences. Cumulative trauma can affect…
Child sex trafficking is human trafficking of a child for sexual exploitation. Trafficking can look many different ways. The common misconception is that trafficking is the shackling and caging of older teen girls and women forced through slavery. Slavery can be a form of trafficking; historically, it was the primary way it occurred. However, it…
Now That Is Priceless!!! Last year, you gave the best gift of all….a Legacy of Love! This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on your part in making what seemed impossible possible! The goal to impact the lives of 1,000 traumatized kids in 2021 was more than doubled BECAUSE OF YOU!!!…
It’s Foster Care Awareness Month, and we want to recognize you! Those of you on the frontlines serve victimized children at all hours of the day and night. It can easily seem like you are overlooked or forgotten. You serve children amid complex realities. It can appear that your efforts and heart often go unnoticed…
Neglect is normally defined as the failure of a parent or other person responsible for the child to provide basic needs. Also, the simple definition of neglect is simply to fail to care for someone properly. It can be intentional or passive. Passive can stem from a lack of experience, information, or ability. Therefore, neglect…
