Educators : Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 4 of 10)

Every form of maltreatment (e.g., physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment) is inflicted on school-age children. In addition, many children who live in homes where domestic violence occurs are not only in danger of a misdirected blow, but probably suffer emotional consequences from witnessing this disturbing behavior. Knowledgeable educators can pick up indicators of possible maltreatment by observing children's behavior at school, recognizing physical signs, and noticing family dynamics during routine interactions with parents.

Physical signs of maltreatment are those that are readily observable. They may be mild or severe, such as numerous, deep bruises or broken bones, or more subtle, such as malnutrition or the wearing of inappropriate clothing (e.g., a lack of warm clothing in winter).

Behavioral indicators may exist independently or may accompany physical indicators. Children who have witnessed family violence also may demonstrate this through their behavior. There might be subtle clues, such as the educator's intuitive or "gut feeling" that something is wrong. There might be sexual behaviors in young children indicating sexual knowledge not ordinarily possessed by young children. Being victimized by abuse also may result in inappropriate behavior, such as sexual or physical aggression toward younger children.

Educators are in an excellent position to notice behavioral indicators. As trained observers, they are sensitive to the range of behaviors exhibited by children at various developmental stages, and they are quick to notice behaviors that fall outside this range. Teachers also can talk with a child's previous teacher to note any major changes in his or her behavior. Abused and neglected children sometimes get the reputation for being "bad kids" or extremely difficult to control or understand. Research suggests that challenging behavior is often a cry for help that concerned adults need to learn to decode.

In the past, lists of physical and behavioral indicators have been provided as guidelines to help educators recognize maltreatment. The first manual in this series, A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice, provides a full range of indicators that may help someone recognize abuse or neglect. Exhibit 3-1 lists several of the key indicators, and Appendix D - Educators' Checklist for Recognizing Possible Child Maltreatment, provides a more extensive listing. Recognition of child maltreatment, however, is not based always upon the detection of one or two clues, but rather on the recognition of a cluster of indicators that make up a composite or pattern. It also is very important to remember that some indicators, both physical and behavioral, may be indications of something other than abuse. This chapter is dedicated to recognizing composites that might be seen specifically by educators and that warrant the consideration of maltreatment as a cause.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse of children includes any nonaccidental physical injury caused by the child's caretaker. It may include injuries sustained from burning, beating, kicking, punching, and so on. While the injury is not an accident, neither is it necessarily the intent of the child's caretaker to injure the child. Physical abuse may result from extreme discipline or from punishment that is inappropriate to the child's age or condition, or the parent may experience recurrent lapses in self-control brought on by immaturity, stress, or the use of alcohol or illicit drugs.

Some children are more susceptible to being maltreated than others. Some require a great deal of care (e.g., premature babies or disabled or developmentally delayed children), and others may be difficult to raise (e.g., hyperactive children, children with behavioral problems). These children would fare well in some families, but not in other families where the burden is too great for the parents to cope with the special needs of these children.

Regardless of whether the child has special needs or not, signs of physical abuse often are difficult to interpret with absolute certainty and may be confused with normal childhood injuries, such as bruises.

Exhibit 3-1: Behavioral Clues That May Indicate Child Abuse

Although there are many other potential indicators, the abused child may:

• Be aggressive, oppositional, or defiant;
• Cower or demonstrate fear of adults;
• Act out, displaying aggressive or disruptive behavior;
• Be destructive to self or others;
• Come to school too early or not want to leave school - indicating a possible fear of going home;
• Show fearlessness or extreme risk taking;
• Be described as "accident prone";
• Cheat, steal, or lie (may be related to too high expectations at home);
• Be a low achiever (to learn, children must convert aggressive energy into learning; children in conflict may not be able to do so);
• Be unable to form good peer relationships;
• Wear clothing that covers the body and that may be inappropriate in warmer months (be aware that this may be a cultural issue as well);
• Show regressive or less mature behavior;
• Dislike or shrink from physical contact - may not tolerate physical praise such as a pat on the back).

Since children typically receive bruises during the course of play or while being active, the leading or bony edges of the body, such as knees, elbows, forearms, or brows, are most likely to be bruised. The soft tissue areas, such as cheeks, buttocks, and thighs, are not normally injured in such circumstances. Additionally, bruises received during the normal course of childhood activity are rarely in distinct shapes, such as a hand, belt buckle, or adult teeth marks. Bruises in soft tissue areas or in distinct shapes are much more indicative of physical abuse.

Unlike bruises, abuse directed to the abdomen or the head, which are two particularly vulnerable spots, often are undetected because many of the injuries are internal. Injuries to the abdomen can cause swelling, tenderness, and vomiting. Injuries to the head may cause swelling in the brain, dizziness, blackouts, retinal detachment, or even death. Referred to more recently as the "shaken baby" syndrome, violent shaking can cause severe damage in children at any age.

Children who are being abused may demonstrate a change in behavior. Many become more aggressive, destructive, fearful, or withdrawn. Often, in an effort to avoid the abuse, they will stay away from home as much as possible. They may see school as a safe environment. Some children are abused because their parents have higher expectations of them than the children are able to achieve or because the expectations are developmentally inappropriate. The case example below illustrates this point.

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.