Sign of Child Abuse and Neglect

Physical Abuse

• Unexplained injuries
• Feels deserving of punishment
• Frightened of parent or caretaker
• May not cry or react when frightened
• Manipulates adults
• Report injury by parent or caretaker
• Injures animals
• Wary of contact with adults
• Apprehensive when other children cry
• Inappropriate maturity
• Extremes in behavior, aggressive/withdrawn
• States he/she is afraid to go home
• Poor self-concept
• Aggressive play

Physical Neglect

• Evidence of failure to thrive
• Underweight, poor growth
• Lack of proper immunizations
• Delay in seeking medical care
• Lack of supervision
• Falls asleep during the day
• Inability to concentrate
• Evidence of poor hygiene
• Inappropriate clothing for the weather
• Regularly complains of being hungry
• Child is abandoned by parent or caretaker
• Regularly arrives early or stays late
• Untreated or gross dental problems
• Chronic ailments

Sexual Abuse

• Masturbates during stressful times
• Inappropriate touching of adults
• Inappropriate knowledge of sexual matters
• Unusual fear of adults
• Inappropriate sexual play with other children
• Touches himself in genital area on regular basis
• Reports sexual contact with adult
• Unusual friendliness with unknown adults
• Runs away from home
• States he/she is afraid to go home
• Urinary infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Fear of the dark, restrooms
• Wetting accidents

Emotional Abuse

• Low self-esteem
• Self-critical
• Critical of other children
• Over compliant
• Withdrawn
• Reports nightmares
• Fearful of parents or caretakers
• Displays symptoms of other abuse or neglect