Child abuse is more common than people think. There are many different kinds of abuse. People often believe that if a child does not have physical injuries, they have not been abused. This is not true.

Child abuse means the physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful maltreatment of a child. Witnessing violence is also considered a form of child abuse.

It is commonly believed that children are most often abused by strangers. This is why education about abuse has focused on stranger danger. Children can be harmed by strangers; however, it is more likely that a child will be abused by the people that they know. This can include family, family friends, and other trusted adults in the child’s life.

Physical: Physical abuse means using physical violence against a child. Some examples of physical abuse include slapping, biting, burning, punching, pushing, throwing, grabbing, and hurting the head, brain, and neck. Physical abuse can cause injuries, like bruising or broken bones.

Emotional: Emotional abuse refers to using words, attitudes, or behaviours to humiliate, embarrass, or hurt a child. Some examples of emotional abuse include making fun of, mocking, or calling a child names.

Sexual:Sexual abuse is any kind of sexual activity involving a child. Sexual activity does not have to include penetration (e.g., putting the penis into the vagina or anus/bum) to be abusive. Some examples of sexual abuse include sexual touching and kissing, forced sexual acts, forcing a child to watch sex between adults (in person or through pornography), making child pornography, and sex trafficking.

Neglect: Neglect refers to not meeting a child’s needs. This can include:

• Emotional neglect: not providing love and care
• Physical neglect: not providing physical supplies like clothes, toothbrush, and soap
• Educational neglect: not allowing the child to attend school
• Medical neglect: not providing a child with needed medical care

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence or Marital Discord: Witnessing intimate partner violence or marital discord refers to a child seeing, hearing, or dealing with the effects of intimate partner violence. The child may not be physically harmed by this abuse. They can be indirectly harmed, for example, by being made to lie about the reason for a parent’s injuries.

Sometimes it is easy to notice the signs of abuse.

However, it can also sometimes be difficult to notice signs of abuse. Sometimes signs of abuse and normal development can be confused.

Below are some signs of abuse:

• Not interested in activities the child used to like
• Changes in behaviour (e.g., more aggressive or hyperactive)
• Going backwards in development (e.g., not being able to use the potty when they have already been potty trained)
• Developing new and unusual fears
• Lack of parent supervision
• Lack of parent attention
• Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, fractures, or burns; young babies are not able to injure themselves until they begin to move
• Injuries that don’t match the explanation given by parent or child
• Untreated medical or dental problems
• Sexual behaviour or knowledge that is inappropriate for the child’s age
• Trouble walking or sitting, or pain in the groin area
• Child acts out abuse they have experienced and may abuse other children
• Frequent headaches or stomach aches
• Seeking stranger’s affection
• Poor growth or weight gain
• Poor hygiene
• Lack of clothing or supplies

There are many impacts of child abuse. Some of these you can see right away, like bruises or aggressive behaviour.

Some of the impacts occur over time. Ongoing abuse causes a constant activation of the child’s stress response system. This constant activation results in physical, emotional, and behavioural problems in childhood and adulthood.

Abuse can also harm the child’s attachment relationships and may make home an unsafe place to be.

The Saskatchewan Child Abuse Protocol states that it is everyone’s responsibility to report child abuse to social services or the police (local or RCMP). If you make a report, it is not up to you to prove the abuse is happening. Child protective services, the police, and other specialists will investigate and make that decision.

It is important not to assume that someone else has already reported the situation. If you suspect abuse, you should report. This ensures that reports are made and information can be added to a child’s file.