POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 73 Signs Of Child Abuse continued Another sign is when a child seems afraid of their parent or protests to head back home. You should also observe the parent or adult caregiver. Do they lack a reasonable explanation or appear uncaring or insensitive to the child’s injury? It’s best to ask both the child and parent about the injury to check if their stories conflict. Sexual Abuse This kind of trauma can change a child’s behaviour in ways that point to warning signs of sexual abuse. This includes acting out, withdrawn behaviour, substance abuse, harming themselves, and referring to sexual themes during playtime. Have you seen a child with an unusual or premature understanding of sex? A child who has undergone sexual abuse will likely show sexual behaviour or knowledge. Sexual abuse may cause a child or youth to either be more promiscuous or cautious about touching. If a child has trouble sitting or walking around due to pain around their private parts, this is something that should be addressed. Be concerned if they suddenly don’t want to join the physical activities they usually love to do. Neglect When a child exhibits poor behaviour or consistently has bad hygiene, this could be a sign of neglect. Lack of clothing and meals is also a sign of neglect and goes against a child’s rights. If a child shares that there is no care at home, this is not something to take lightly. Emotional Maltreatment Children may show extremes in behaviour if they’ve experienced emotional maltreatment. Emotional abuse also causes children to be more cautious or fearful when doing certain actions. The child may either act too much like an adult or inappropriately childish. If you notice that a child does not seem to have a reasonable connection to their parent, caregiver or another adult in their life, they may be experiencing emotional abuse. Notice child abuse before it’s too late Always put children first when you find signs of abuse. If a child discloses an abusive situation to you, or if you suspect they may be a victim of child abuse, get the authorities involved. There is an obligation / legal duty to report suspected abuse. If the danger is imminent, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more resources on how to report suspected cases of child abuse, click here. If you know a young person who needs to talk to someone for support, they can all Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. Let’s work together to keep kids safe! For more information about online sexual exploitation of children and to report it, go to: https://www.cybertip.ca/en/. childrenfirstcanada.org/
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