How to Prevent Child Abuse

How 5 Minutes Worth of Education Can Help You Better Understand How to Prevent Child Abuse

You get a call from your grandfather and you find yourself tearing up and saying "if only she knew, if only I had told her..."

Because you see, just minutes before, your grandma had passed away from lung cancer. Your grandma, the one you called "Nana", the one person who used to knowingly give you cookies and milk on the weekends your parents left you with her and said "Remember, Nana, no sweets for the kids."

How you loved those happy moments with Nana.

But Nana was a chain smoker. She was from a different time and the message about how smoking can cause cancer never got to her. And so sadly, she passed away at the tender age of 57, and everyone in the family agrees her 3 packs-a-day habit probably was the reason.

It was an early death that could have been prevented, if only Nana had known about the dangers of smoking. You could have told her in 5 minutes....

But there are other tragedies out there that can be solved by a 5 minute education...

For instance, learning how to prevent child abuse...

Just by reading over the following facts, you can prevent a tragedy like Nana's, except this time you'll be helping someone who's just starting out in life.

Key Child Abuse Facts to Know:

• Anyone can be a child abuser.
• Children are more likely to be abused by someone they know.
• Abuse is typically not a one-time event. It is likely to be repeated.

Know the signs of child abuse and neglect¹.

Below are some signs that may signal the presence of child abuse and/or neglect from the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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 (or difficulty concentrating) 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• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn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

The Parent:

• Shows little concern for the child
• 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 emotional needs

The Parent and Child:

• Rarely touch or look at each other
• Consider their relationship entirely negative
• State that they do not like each other

So now you've had a 5 minute education to help you better understand how to prevent child abuse...

You know the basic signs of child abuse. Go report it to the proper authorities if you have knowledge of any child being abused.

You can't save Nana, but you can save someone else. And wouldn't your Nana think that child abuse prevention is worth a plate of warm cookies and a glass of milk?

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References:

1. http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/signs.cfm (Accessed: 9/5/09)