REPORT CHILD ABUSE

If a life is at risk, call the police: 000

If a child needs to be assisted, call the Child Protection Crisis Line - 131 278 a toll free, 24/7 hotline

Recognising Child Abuse

Warning signs of emotional abuse in children

  • Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or  anxious about doing something wrong.
  • Shows extremes in behavior (extremely  compliant or extremely demanding; extremely passive or extremely aggressive).
  • Doesn’t seem to be attached to the  parent or caregiver.
  • Acts either inappropriately adult  (taking care of other children) or inappropriately infantile (rocking,  thumb-sucking, throwing  tantrums).

Warning signs of physical abuse in children

  • Frequent  injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or  cuts.
  • Is always watchful and “on alert,” as  if waiting for something bad to happen.
  • Injuries appear to have a pattern such  as marks from a hand or belt.
  • Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid  to go home.
  • Wears inappropriate clothing to cover  up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts on hot days.

Warning signs of neglect in children

  • Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or  inappropriate for the weather.
  • Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed,  matted and unwashed hair, noticeable body odor).
  • Untreated illnesses and physical injuries.
  • Is frequently unsupervised or left  alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations and environments.
  • Is frequently late or missing from  school.

Warning signs of sexual abuse in children

  • Trouble walking or sitting.
  • Displays knowledge or interest in sexual  acts inappropriate to his or her age, or even seductive behavior.
  • Makes strong efforts to avoid a  specific person, without an obvious reason.
  • Doesn’t want to change clothes in  front of others or participate in physical activities.
  • An STD or pregnancy, especially under  the age of 14.
  • Runs away from home.
Helping & Preventing Child Abuse

1)      Be a nurturing parent. Being a nurturing parent involves meeting basic physical needs as well as consistently seeking to meet your children’s emotional needs. Each child is different, as is each parent, so a nurturing relationship can take many forms. Check out these great tips for being a nurturing parent. 

2)      Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Everyone sometimes feels stressed, overworked and out of patience, but these kinds of emotions, if left unabated, can lead to regrettable parenting decisions. If you notice that a parent you know seems to be having a rough time, that’s a great cue that they may need a little break. Even small gestures can mean a lot and relieve a stressful parent. Here are ten ways you can help out a stressed out parent. Remember, just because a parent is stressed, doesn’t mean that they are abusing or neglecting their children. But a little help from a trusted friend may do a lot to help them be the parent they want to be. 

3)      Help yourself and de-stress when necessary. If you find yourself being the one who is stressed out, then maybe it’s time to let a trusted friend or family member in to help on occasion. Here are some ideas for coping with the stress of raising children. Sometimes a few good nights’ sleep away for the weekend is all it takes. 

4)      When your baby cries, be patient. When a baby won’t stop crying, it can be frustrating, heartbreaking and even defeating. If you have a baby who is prone to long bouts of crying, take a look at these tips for calming an infant. Never shake a baby. Shaking a baby can result in severe injury and even death. For more information about shaken baby syndrome, please click here. 

5)      Get involved. Tell other people about child abuse resources in your community and services like the National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD).  Share resources like this blog and don’t shy away from speaking out against child abuse and neglect. 

6)      Help develop parenting resources. Are you a parent who feels like they have wisdom and experiences to share? Contact your local library and offer to help them develop parenting resources. 

7)      Monitor your child’s media intake. This includes things like television, YouTube videos, movies, social media activity, and even texting. Watching violent films and television shows can be harmful to a young child’s development and can be desensitizing to older children and teens. For tips on how to decide what your children are allowed to watch, visit CommonSenseMedia.org, and for ideas to set internet safety rules and boundaries, click here.

8)      Promote programs in school. Help the schools in your community be the source of education about child abuse, not just math, English and science. Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe program provides an age appropriate curriculum for schools, parents and kids to take a stand against child abuse. 

9)      Volunteer at a local child abuse prevention program. Another way to get involved in the fight against child abuse is to volunteer your time. Childhelp has local chapters and Wings programs which raise funds and awareness for Childhelp programs. Without these tireless volunteers, we would not be able to do what we do.  

10)   Report suspected abuse or neglect. Last, but certainly not least, if you suspect abuse, report it. If you are being abused, don’t stay silent. Anyone can call the National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at no cost, anonymously. Certified counselors are there to assist callers with deciding what the next step to take is. For more information about what a hotline call is like, click here.