Child Abuse

Child abuse is the physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful maltreatment of a child. Witnessing violence is also considered a form of child abuse. Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), where a child witnesses one parent or caregiver abuse the other, is a serious form of child abuse that often goes unrecognized. Impacts of child abuse can be immediate, such as injuries or aggressive behaviours. Other impacts of child abuse develop over time, such as hyper-arousal, sensitized stress response systems, and insecure attachment. Children are often abused by someone the child knows and trusts like a parent/guardian, family member, coach, or teacher. Everyone has a duty to report suspected child abuse according to the Child and Family Services Act.

Types of Child Abuse

PHYSICAL ABUSE involves the intentional use of physical force against a child, including for discipline. It can cause physical pain or injuries, like bruising or broken bones. Examples include:

pushing or shoving
hitting, slapping, punching, or kicking
strangling or choking
biting
burning
throwing or grabbing a child
throwing objects at a child
locking a child in a room or tying them down
hurting the head, brain, and neck (Abusive Head Trauma)

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
using threats, put downs, or insults
constant yelling or criticism
expecting a child to be able to do things they cannot do
being overly controlling
destroying belongings or threatening to do so

SEXUAL ABUSE is any action involving a child in sexual exploitation or sexual activity. Sexual abuse includes:

penetrative sexual intercourse
sexual touching and kissing
forced sexual acts
exposure to sexual activity (e.g., forcing a child to watch sex between adults in person or through pornography)
using a child in the making of/or viewing of pornography
sex trafficking

NEGLECT is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. This can include:

physical neglect: failing to provide physical necessities like food, proper clothing, shelter, or supervision for the child
emotional neglect: not providing attention, love, or care
educational neglect: failing to educate a child
medical neglect: not providing a child with needed medical or mental healthcare

Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence

Witnessing intimate partner violence is also a form of child abuse in Saskatchewan. This includes exposing a child to a pattern of abusive behaviours or threats of abusive behaviour by one partner against another (e.g., hitting, kicking, restraining, throwing objects, intimidation, stalking). Children can be impacted when they:

see and hear violence occurring
experience the aftermath such as damage to the home, injuries, or parental depression
are threatened as part of the abuse
become confidants or provide care to their parent(s)
experience other negative effects from the violence and unhealthy relationship interactions

Even if children do not see the violence, they are still aware of what is going on in the home. Young children are especially vulnerable during incidences of intimate partner violence because they are small, unable to protect themselves, and likely to be home when conflict is occurring. Young children are also less likely than older children to have supports and relationships outside of their home, or the language development to be able to tell someone about the abuse. Similar to other forms of child abuse, everyone has a duty to report exposure of a child to violence.

Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence on Children

Witnessing intimate partner violence can have significant emotional, behavioural, and physical impacts on children, both in the short and long term. In cases where intimate partner violence occurs during pregnancy, children exposed to this violence may experience developmental delays, low birth weight, or other physical health issues. Children exposed to intimate partner violence in childhood are more likely to develop emotional and behavioural issues, such as:

anxiety
depression
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
aggressive or hyperactive behaviours

Children who witness intimate partner violence are also at greater risk of becoming perpetrators or victims of violence in the future, continuing the pattern of abuse from one generation to the next.

Signs of Child Abuse

Sometimes it is easy to notice the signs of abuse, and other times it is difficult. Sometimes signs of abuse and normal development can be confused. Witnessing intimate partner violence shares the same signs as other types of child abuse. Below are some signs of child abuse:

unexplained injuries such as cuts, bruises, fractures, and burns
injuries that don’t match the explanation given by the caregiver or child
untreated medical or dental issues
lack of parental attention and/or supervision
poor hygiene, lack of clothing and other necessities
poor growth, abnormal weight gain or weight loss
frequent headaches, stomach aches, or other physical complaints
genital discomfort, painful urination or defecation
changes in behaviour (e.g., more aggressive or hyperactive) or regressive behaviour (i.e., going backwards in development such as not using the toilet after previously being potty trained, excessive crying)
changes in social interactions, becoming withdrawn or overly clingy
lack of interest in activities the child used to enjoy
fear of specific situations or individuals
decreased school performance or frequent absenteeism from school or activities
fear, anxiety, clinging, sleeping problems
self-harm behaviours
problems with attachment to caregivers, shows difficulty trusting others
seeks affection from strangers
sexual behaviour or knowledge that is inappropriate for the child’s age
diagnosed sexually transmitted infection or pregnancy

Long-Term Impacts of Child Abuse

Young children are impacted in many ways by child abuse. This type of abuse is often prolonged, which can lead to chronic states of hyper-arousal and sensitized stress response systems. This constant activation can result in physical, emotional, and behavioural problems in childhood and adulthood. If the abuse occurs within the home, the child may not be able to form secure attachments and may not have a safe person to turn to.

There are a variety of long-term impacts linked to child abuse and neglect including behavioural and achievement problems in school; obesity; mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and increased suicidal ideation and attempts; substance use; and risky sexual behaviours and unplanned pregnancy. Children exposed to intimate partner violence may also develop long-term issues with trust, interpersonal relationships, and emotional regulation. They may carry the trauma of witnessing abuse throughout their lives, increasing their risk for mental health issues, as well as behavioural problems and aggression. Children exposed to intimate partner violence are also at higher risk of perpetuating the cycle of violence in future relationships.

Ongoing support, such as counselling, peer support, and support groups, can help to reduce the long-term impacts of child abuse.

Suspected Child Abuse

Duty to Report

Anyone having reasonable suspicion that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been, or may be, impacted by abuse or neglect has a legal duty to report such information immediately to a local Ministry of Social Services Child Protection Office, First Nations Child and Family Services Agency, or police.

The Luna Child Advocacy Centre has created a video and toolkit to help report suspected child abuse. Visit www.lunacentre.ca for more information.

Recognizing and Responding – Healthcare and Social Service Providers

The VEGA (Violence, Evidence, Guidance, and Action) Project has created evidence-based resources to assist healthcare and social service providers in recognizing and responding safely to family violence. VEGA focuses on three types of family violence: child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and children’s exposure to intimate partner violence. For more information, visit www.vegaproject.mcmaster.ca.

Prevention and Intervention

Targeted prevention and intervention efforts are important to help prevent the occurrence of child abuse and to ensure that children who experience abuse receive adequate support to help prevent long-term impacts.

Teach children their rights.
Educate children about healthy relationships, consent, appropriate and inappropriate touch, and boundaries.
Teach children the proper names of body parts.
Discuss online safety with children and support them to create healthy relationships and boundaries online.
Reinforce the importance of seeking help from trusted adults when children feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Learn about and practice healthy parenting.
Avoid physical punishment. Instead, use positive discipline to help children learn healthy behaviours, empathy, and self-regulation.
Help children learn how to recognize and name their emotions, as well as how to regulate their emotions.
Model healthy social skills in daily interactions, including non-violent communication and healthy conflict resolution.
Be aware of the signs of child abuse and understand the duty to report. If a child is in danger, call 911 immediately.
Provide trauma-informed care and support to children exposed to intimate partner violence and other forms of abuse.
Help children understand and express their feelings related to the trauma they may have witnessed and/or experienced.
Offer resources and therapy that specifically address the effects of witnessing violence.

Supports

For those experiencing violence and/or abuse, help is available. Visit Services for People Experiencing Violence & Abuse (www.abuse.sk.211.ca) for more information. Children and youth can also connect with Kids Help phone by texting CONNECT to 686868, calling 1-800-668-6868, or visiting www.kidshelpphone.ca.

For information about shelters, counselling and support centres, and programs for people who use violence, visit www.pathssk.org/get-help-now.