PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM ABUSE.
Child abuse is the physical/emotional maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child. There are four different types of child abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
Physical abuse occurs when a child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering, non-accidental physical trauma or injury. It can include; hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, biting, poisoning.
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult, stronger child or adolescent uses their power or authority to involve a child in sexual activity. Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include:
Kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner
Exposing a sexual body part to a child
Having sexual relations with a child under 18 years of age
Sending obscene mobile text messages or emails to a child
Fondling a child in a sexual manner
Penetrating a child's anus or vagina by penis, finger or any other object
Oral sex
Incest
Rape
Showing pornography films, magazines or photographs to a child
Child prostitution.
Emotional abuse occurs when a child's social, emotional, cognitive or intellectual development is impaired or threatened. It can include emotional deprivation due to persistent:
Rejection
Hostility
Teasing or bullying
Yelling
Criticism
Exposure of a child to domestic and family violence
Neglect occurs when a child's basic necessities of life are not met, and their health and development are affected. Basic needs include; food, housing, health care, adequate clothing, personal hygiene, hygienic living conditions, adequate supervision.
It is a terrible situation for any child to experience regardless of colour, race or creed. Parents and caregivers should not let their guards down in protecting their wards against this societal menace, this is because it has a devastating consequences and effects on the child in every area of his/her life. Some of which are; learning problems, fear or shyness, depression, fear of certain adults or places, frequent injuries. The effects it has on the child later in life are; abuses own family, uses violence to solve problems, have emotional difficulties, attempt suicide, use alcohol or drugs.
TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM ABUSE
Parents can protect their children from abuse through the following ways:
Use appropriate anatomical terms for body parts: Eyes are eyes, knees are knees and penises are penises. Avoid using cutesy names like booty or wee wee, it confuses the child in case something needs to be reported.
Educate the child on "safe touch" vs. "bad touch": Let your child know by telling her areas that can be touched in her body that do not call for alarm, areas like shoulders, head and feet. Teach her areas that can not be touched, this are areas covered by her underwear.
Be involved in your child's world: this can come through proper nurturing and attachment, develop a close bond between you and your child, this will make her find in you a friend, not just a parent. This will make your child to be open to you in everything, no matter what he/she is going through; be it bullying or physical abuse in school or wherever.
Choose your parenting style wisely: The ways some parents train or bring up their children create a thought in them that violence is normal. In relating with your children avoid violent methods; yelling, kicking, name calling, hitting, etc. When they don't experience these through you, they will be fast to know that it's not an acceptable way(s) to be treated by anyone, thus they will report the situation to you or the appropriate authority.
Model good social and emotional skills: Children count on parents and caregivers to learn about emotions and how to relate to others in their lives. So, as a parent model appropriate relationship skills with the opposite sex.
Be careful who you trust: Most cases of abuse on children are carried out on the children by close relations, whom we trust. Usually they establish a trusting relationship with the family and seek opportunities to be alone with the kids.
Monitor the activities of your child on smartphones and tablets: this will help check the kind of text, games and apps he or she is engaged with on social media.
Avoid your child sitting on any man's thigh: this is one of the subtle ways child sexual abuse creeps in.
Above all parents and caregivers should always keep proper watch on their wards.
Physical abuse occurs when a child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering, non-accidental physical trauma or injury. It can include; hitting, shaking, throwing, burning, biting, poisoning.
Sexual abuse occurs when an adult, stronger child or adolescent uses their power or authority to involve a child in sexual activity. Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include:
Kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner
Exposing a sexual body part to a child
Having sexual relations with a child under 18 years of age
Sending obscene mobile text messages or emails to a child
Fondling a child in a sexual manner
Penetrating a child's anus or vagina by penis, finger or any other object
Oral sex
Incest
Rape
Showing pornography films, magazines or photographs to a child
Child prostitution.
Emotional abuse occurs when a child's social, emotional, cognitive or intellectual development is impaired or threatened. It can include emotional deprivation due to persistent:
Rejection
Hostility
Teasing or bullying
Yelling
Criticism
Exposure of a child to domestic and family violence
Neglect occurs when a child's basic necessities of life are not met, and their health and development are affected. Basic needs include; food, housing, health care, adequate clothing, personal hygiene, hygienic living conditions, adequate supervision.
It is a terrible situation for any child to experience regardless of colour, race or creed. Parents and caregivers should not let their guards down in protecting their wards against this societal menace, this is because it has a devastating consequences and effects on the child in every area of his/her life. Some of which are; learning problems, fear or shyness, depression, fear of certain adults or places, frequent injuries. The effects it has on the child later in life are; abuses own family, uses violence to solve problems, have emotional difficulties, attempt suicide, use alcohol or drugs.
TIPS ON HOW TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM ABUSE
Parents can protect their children from abuse through the following ways:
Use appropriate anatomical terms for body parts: Eyes are eyes, knees are knees and penises are penises. Avoid using cutesy names like booty or wee wee, it confuses the child in case something needs to be reported.
Educate the child on "safe touch" vs. "bad touch": Let your child know by telling her areas that can be touched in her body that do not call for alarm, areas like shoulders, head and feet. Teach her areas that can not be touched, this are areas covered by her underwear.
Be involved in your child's world: this can come through proper nurturing and attachment, develop a close bond between you and your child, this will make her find in you a friend, not just a parent. This will make your child to be open to you in everything, no matter what he/she is going through; be it bullying or physical abuse in school or wherever.
Choose your parenting style wisely: The ways some parents train or bring up their children create a thought in them that violence is normal. In relating with your children avoid violent methods; yelling, kicking, name calling, hitting, etc. When they don't experience these through you, they will be fast to know that it's not an acceptable way(s) to be treated by anyone, thus they will report the situation to you or the appropriate authority.
Model good social and emotional skills: Children count on parents and caregivers to learn about emotions and how to relate to others in their lives. So, as a parent model appropriate relationship skills with the opposite sex.
Be careful who you trust: Most cases of abuse on children are carried out on the children by close relations, whom we trust. Usually they establish a trusting relationship with the family and seek opportunities to be alone with the kids.
Monitor the activities of your child on smartphones and tablets: this will help check the kind of text, games and apps he or she is engaged with on social media.
Avoid your child sitting on any man's thigh: this is one of the subtle ways child sexual abuse creeps in.
Above all parents and caregivers should always keep proper watch on their wards.
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