9.7.2: Signs of Maltreatment

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Heather Carter and Amber Tankersley
Pittsburg State University

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Exclamation Mark, Warning, Danger, Attention, Black

Warning: This chapter contains information about child abuse which may be triggering for some readers.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you should be able to:

Identify the common signs and symptoms of different types of child maltreatment, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect.
Explain how early childhood educators can recognize these signs and respond appropriately to protect the well-being of children in their care.

Signs of Child Maltreatment

It is important to recognize high-risk situations and the signs and symptoms of maltreatment. If you suspect a child is being harmed or the child directly discloses that they have experienced abuse or neglect, reporting suspicions may protect him or her and help the family receive assistance. Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse or neglect. Reporting your concerns is not making an accusation; rather, it is a request for an investigation and assessment to determine if help is needed.

Table 9.7.2.1 – Signs of General Maltreatment
Child	Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the families’ attention Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen Lacks adult supervision Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home Is reluctant to be around a particular person Discloses maltreatment
Parent/caregiver	Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child’s problems in school or at home Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of the parent’s emotional needs Shows little concern for the child
Parent/caregiver and child	Touch or look at each other rarely Consider their relationship entirely negative State consistently that they do not like each other

It is important to pay attention to other behaviors that may seem unusual or concerning. Additionally, the presence of these signs does not necessarily mean that a child is being maltreated; there may be other causes. They are, however, indicators that others should be concerned about the child’s welfare, particularly when multiple signs are present or they occur repeatedly.

Signs of Specific Forms of Child Maltreatment

Physical Abuse

Table 9.7.2.2 – Signs of Physical Abuse ²⁹³
Scenario	Characteristics
A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of physical abuse:	Has unexplained injuries, such as burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes Has fading bruises or other noticeable marks after an absence from school Seems scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn, or aggressive Seems frightened of his or her parents/caregivers and protests or cries when it is time to go home Shrinks at the approach of adults Shows changes in eating and sleeping habits Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver Abuses animals or pets
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when a parent or other adult caregiver exhibits the following	Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury or provides an explanation that is not consistent with the injury Shows little concern for the child Sees the child as entirely bad, burdensome, or worthless Uses harsh physical discipline with the child Has a history of abusing animals or pets

child with bruise on face — Figure 6.6 – Not all forms of abuse leave visible marks.²⁹⁴

Sexual Abuse

Table 9.7.2.3 – Signs of Sexual Abuse ²⁹⁵
Scenario	Characteristics
A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of sexual abuse:	Has difficulty walking or sitting Experiences bleeding, bruising, or swelling in their private parts Suddenly refuses to go to school Reports nightmares or bedwetting Experiences a sudden change in appetite Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior Becomes pregnant or contracts a sexually transmitted disease, particularly if under the age of 14 Runs away Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver Attaches very quickly to strangers or new adults in their environment
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when a parent or other adult caregiver exhibits the following	Tries to be the child’s friend rather than assume an adult role Makes up excuses to be alone with the child Talks with the child about the adult’s personal problems or relationships

Emotional Abuse

Table 9.7.2.4 – Signs of Emotional Abuse²⁹⁶
Scenario	Characteristics
A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of emotional abuse:	Shows extremes in behavior, such as being overly compliant or demanding, extremely passive, or aggressive Is either inappropriately adult (e.g., parenting other children) or inappropriately infantile (e.g., frequently rocking or head-banging) Is delayed in physical or emotional development Shows signs of depression or suicidal thoughts Reports an inability to develop emotional bonds with others
Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when a parent or other adult caregiver exhibits the following	Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child Describes the child negatively Overtly rejects the child

Neglect

Table 9.7.2.5 – Signs of Neglect²⁹⁷
Scenario	Characteristics
A child who exhibits the following signs may be a victim of neglect:	Is frequently absent from school Begs or steals food or money Lacks needed medical care (including immunizations), dental care, or glasses Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather Abuses alcohol or other drugs States that there is no one at home to provide care
Consider the possibility of neglect when a parent or other adult caregiver exhibits the following	Appears to be indifferent to the child Seems apathetic or depressed Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner Abuses alcohol or other drugs

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Pause to Reflect

What signs might a professional notice for each of these?

References

This page was from 6: Child Maltreatment by Paris. in Paris, J. (2021). Health, safety and nutrition. LibreTexts.

For references according to subscript, please see pages 145-161 of the original Health, Safety and Nutrition book (Paris, 2021) on Google Drive.

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Warning: This chapter contains information about child abuse which may be triggering for some readers.

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Emotional Abuse

Neglect

Pause to Reflect