If a child cries every time a certain person enters the room, it could be a sign of child abuse.
Parents, teachers, and other adults who work with children are often trained to spot physical signs of abuse, including unexplained bruising, poor hygiene, self-harm, and others. Any change in a child’s behavior should also be considered a possible sign of abuse. Incidents of sexual, physical or emotional abuse do not always leave physical scars, but a child can still exhibit emotional scars through her behavior with other children and adults. Abused children may suddenly become very introverted or begin to bully other children. Many exhibit inappropriate behavior or are very mature for their age and may become overly affectionate or reluctant to be touched.
Abused children may begin to bully other children.
A possible behavioral sign of abuse is a sudden switch between an extroverted and introverted personality. However, the effects of abuse can work in either direction and it is not always a shift towards social withdrawal or introversion. Some victims of child abuse may become more outgoing and extroverted, even to the point of excess.
If a child suddenly becomes a bully at school or a perpetual victim, this could be a warning sign. Abused children often react to trauma with internal seizures or blackouts. Both the abuser and the victim may be reacting to an abusive situation.
Social isolation can be a sign of bullying.
Another behavioral sign is age-inappropriate activity. Some victims of child abuse may regress to a safer period in their lives as a defense mechanism. These children may throw tantrums, use security blankets, or display other early childhood behaviors.
Other children, especially victims of physical or sexual abuse, may show signs of maturity beyond their years. They may use sexual or obscene language, or depict sexual behavior. Victims of physical abuse may force other children to perform dangerous stunts or re-enact violent scenes from video games or movies.
Children who are abused often have self-esteem issues.
A child’s increased display of affection may be considered normal by many adults, but it can also be a sign of abuse. Abused children often seek comfort from an adult they know will not hurt them. Some victims, especially those who have been sexually abused, can become very clingy or even inappropriately affectionate with adults. Victims of sexual abuse were often groomed to be seductive by their abuser. Children need to learn limits when it comes to physical contact with adults, and overly affectionate behavior should be viewed as a potential warning sign.
Some children who have been abused may become attached to adults.
Other children may exhibit exactly the opposite behavior. Victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse often avoid any physical contact with adults or other children. If a child winces every time a particular adult enters the room, it could suggest a problem. A child may also start crying every time an abusive babysitter comes home.
Even the physical resemblance of an adult to a child’s abuser may be enough to trigger a reaction. If a boy seems afraid of bearded men, for example, this could indicate abuse by a bearded relative or neighbor. Some abused children may react negatively to the teacher’s authoritative voice or refuse to enter a storage closet or other small room.
Abused children may throw tantrums.
Reporting possible child abuse can be a difficult decision to make, as the physical and behavioral signs can also be the result of normal childhood experiences. It is difficult to charge an adult with a crime based on circumstantial evidence. Yet thousands of children become victims of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse each year in the United States alone, which means that adults have a responsibility to report any potential abuse to law enforcement or social welfare organizations. .
