The four types of abuse:
- Physical
- Neglect
- Sexual
- Emotional
Physical
Non-accidental injury;
includes severe beatings, burns,
strangulation, or human bites. The 5 B's
include:
- Burns
- Bites
- Bruises
- Broken Bones
- Black Eyes
Behavior Signs of Physical Abuse:
- Child may seem frightened of
parents and cries when it is time to
go home.
- Child may withdraw at the
approach of adults
- Child may report to you an
injury inflicted by a parent or
another caregiver.
Neglect
The failure to provide a child with the
basic necessities of life: food,
clothing, shelter, or medical care.
Signs of Neglect:
- Frequent absences
- Begging or stealing food or
money from classmates
- Lacking medical or dental care
- Lacking sufficient clothing for
the weather
- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs
- States there is no one at home
to provide care
Sexual
The exploitation of a child for the
sexual gratification of an adult, as in
rape, incest, fondling, or
exhibitionism.
Signs of Sexual Abuse:
- Child has difficulty walking or
sitting
- Child demonstrates unusual or
sophisticated sexual knowledge
- Child reports sexual abuse by a
parent or caregiver
- Child suddenly refuses to change
for gym or to participate in
physical activities
- Child becomes pregnant or
contracts a venereal disease
The Teacher's Role
- Believe what the child has told
you
- Tell the child that you are glad
he/she informed you, and let the
child know you are sorry about what
happened
- Be aware of your feelings during
the disclosure
- Communicate to the child that it
is okay to talk about this to you
- Reassure the child that it is
not his/her fault. It's always the
older person's fault.
- Allow the child to tell you what
happened at his own pace
- Remain non-judgmental in cases
of incest; the abuser may have
threatened the child to remain
silent.
- Explain that you are required to
report it in order to get help
- Make no promises to the child.
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