Working with children :Working with children Child abuse


Aims for today :Aims for today Today, we will be: Investigating the signs of child abuse Explaining the effects of child abuse Exploring the different types of child abuse


What is abuse, what is child abuse? :What is abuse, what is child abuse? With a partner, define what is meant by the term abuse.


Abuse :Abuse Abuse is defined as: to use wrongly or improperly to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign to commit sexual assault upon.


Common myths :Common myths It is just ‘dirty old men’ that abuse children It can be anyone: Family members, family friends, friends, other adults involved with the child Abusers are all from a poor social class Abusers come from all walks of life Abusers use the lines “want some sweets little kid” and “want to stroke my puppy” as enticements Abusers are sophisticated in their evil approaches.


Is it child abuse? :Is it child abuse? Is it hitting an unruly child? Shouting at a child to “sit down and shut up”? Smacking them on their bottom or hand? Swearing at a child? Calling them names, such as: idiot, dick, and so on? Not letting them go out to see their friends? Forcing them to eat certain foods? Not providing the correct clothing for them? Not showing them love and affection? Is it shaking a baby? Exposing a child to pornography? Spying on a child undressing? Making them do household chores? Constantly blaming the child for something


Types of child abuse :Types of child abuse A short video on some child abuse facts and figures What types of child abuse are there? On a Post-it note, write down all of the types of child abuse that may exist, and then stick it on the board


Types of child abuse :Types of child abuse Child abuse has 4 main forms, and one additional one. The four main forms: Neglect Physical abuse Sexual abuse Emotional abuse The other form: Bullying Usually by other children


Your tasks :Your tasks Read through the case study, and then answer the two questions at the bottom of the study Your next task is to complete the task sheets.


Neglect :Neglect Can be physical, educational, or emotional Physical: Not providing food, warmth, shelter, clothing, medicine Educational: Failing to enrol them at school Letting them stay at home and bunk off Consequences of this? Not providing specialist education, where necessary. Emotional: Providing love, affection Providing support and psychological care


Physical abuse :Physical abuse This is the usual stuff: Punching, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, scalding It can be caused by siblings, as well as parents.


Sexual abuse :Sexual abuse The worst kind? Roughly one in 10 male victims of child sex abuse, in a U.K. study, later went on to abuse children as adults. Twenty-six of the 224 sex abuse victims (12%) later committed sexual offenses, and, in almost all cases, their victims were also children. Like breeds like?


Sexual abuse :Sexual abuse This includes the following: Fondling Violation of privacy Child pornography (using the child) Exposing a child to any pornography ‘grooming’ a child for sexual activity (internet) Exposing a child to any adult sexual activity Child prostitution Any sexual acts with a child


Emotional abuse :Emotional abuse This is someone’s attitude, behaviour or failure to intervene that may affect a child emotionally, mentally, or socially Examples include: Name calling Ignoring them Lack of positive reinforcement (I love you, hugging) Threatening, terrorising or frightening a child Making negative comments/belittling them Habitual blaming Using extreme forms of punishment (such as sensory deprivation) Child exploitation


Bullying :Bullying What is bullying? Have you ever bullied another person? Have you been bullied? Do bullies bully because they were bullied? What do schools do to stop bullying? Is it just a natural part of school life? 48% of 9-13 year olds in America (study number: 1200) said that they had been bullied and 42% said that they had bullied someone “once in a while”. Source: kids health poll (2004).


Bullying :Bullying What types of bullying exist? In addition to the other forms of abuse, what other forms might bullying take? Think with a partner for 60 seconds. Cyber Physical Emotional Racist Verbal sexual


Signs of abuse :Signs of abuse Your next task is to complete the sheet on the signs of abuse


General signs of child abuse :General signs of child abuse A quick video on the signs


The signs of child abuse :The signs of child abuse If a child is being abused, the likely signs are: Physical signs Bruises, cuts, welts, burns Behavioural signs Shy, afraid of touch, aggressive, overly friendly, scared of others, inappropriately dressed for the weather, uses more ‘adult’ oriented language, may wish to touch others inappropriately. However, some people who suffer from legitimate conditions may display some of these signs.


Conclusion :Conclusion Do you now know more about child abuse than when you came in? Looking forward, would you be more aware about children if you work with them?