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It is important to note that the following signs do not explicitly mean that abuse is happening. For example, there are many reasons that a child might not come to school on a particular day, or a child may be overly compliant when trying to please a favorite teacher. However, when you have a cluster of two or more of these signs, this may be cause for concern.
Signs of Child Abuse:
- Child shows sudden change in behavior or school performance
- Is overly compliant, too responsible
- Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
- Has bruises or marks in non-prominent, “fleshy” areas of the body (cheeks, behind the knees, etc.)
- Begs for or steals food/money from classmates
- Lacks needed medical or dental care
Symptoms that children can incur as a result of abuse:
- “Hurting stomach”/ nausea
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Withdrawal from others
- Clinging to caregivers
- Sexually inappropriate behavior
- Lying
- Change in appetite
- Nightmares
- Mood changes
- Avoiding school/friends/family
- Fears/Phobias
- Attention-seeking behaviors
Children react differently depending on age, extent of the abuse, support from others, and their relationship with the offender. The single most important factor that impacts a child’s recovery is the level of support they receive from caregivers.
