What is Child Abuse and Neglect?
Child abuse is when a child is hurt intentionally, or when a parent or caregiver fails to protect a child in their care. It is against the law.
The following non legal definitions describe what might constitute a situation which could require reporting to the agency and warrant child protection intervention
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is any deliberate physical force or action (usually by a parent or caregiver) that results, or could result, in injury to a child. It can include punching, slapping, beating, shaking, burning, biting or throwing a child. It’s stronger than what’s considered reasonable discipline.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse occurs when a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult or an older child. Coercion (physical, psychological or emotional) is intrinsic to sexual abuse. This is what distinguishes it from sexual exploration with peers.
- It is against the law:
- To touch a child for sexual purposes.
- Encourage or force a child to touch another person in a sexual way
- Encourage or force a child to participate in any sexual activity
- Tell a child to touch himself or herself for an adult or older child’s sexual purpose.
Sexual abuse of children can take many forms. Examples include sexual intercourse, exposing a child’s private areas, indecent phone calls, fondling for sexual purposes, watching a child undress for sexual pleasure, allowing a child to look at, or perform in, pornographic pictures or videos, or engage in prostitution.
Risk of Sexual Abuse
The child is likely to be sexually harmed as a result of an escalating pattern of questionable sexual activity by the caregiver of the child.
Childhood Sexual Behaviour
Normal sexual development is expressed by different behaviours at different ages. The following is a brief summary of what could be considered normal. If you have concerns, it is important to discuss the concerns with health professionals or call the Society and speak with an intake worker. Excerpts taken from paper written by Toni Cavanagh Johnson, Ph.D.
Normal behaviours related to sex and sexuality in preschool children:
- touches/rubs own genitals when diapers are being changed, when going to sleep, when tense, excited or afraid
- touches genitals. Breasts of familiar adults and children
- takes advantage of opportunity to look at nude persons
- asks about genitals, breasts, intercourse and babies
- erections
- likes to be nude and may show others his/her genitals
- interest in watching people doing bathroom functions
- uses “dirty words” for bathroom and sexual functions
- plays doctor
- interested in own feces
- puts something in the genitals or rectum of self or others out of curiosity or exploration
- plays house
Normal behaviours related to sex and sexuality in children grades K to four (including previous list):
- asks about genitals, breasts, intercourse and babies
- interest in having / birthing babies
- thinks children of the opposite sex are “gross”, chases them
- talks about sex with friends
- talks about having a boyfriend/girlfriend
- wants privacy when changing or in the bathroom
- likes to hear and tell “dirty” jokes
- looks at nude pictures
- plays games with same age children related to sex or sexuality
- draws genitals on human figures
- explores differences between sexes
- wants to compare genitals with peer aged friends
- kissing familiar adults and children
- looks at genitals, breasts and buttocks of adults
- interest in breeding behaviour of animals
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that attacks a child’s emotional development and sense of self-worth. It includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity.
Such acts include constantly criticizing, teasing, belittling, insulting, rejecting, ignoring or isolating the child. This kind of abuse also includes failure by a parent or caregiver to provide their children with love, emotional support and guidance.
Exposure to domestic violence and conflict arising out of custody and access disputes often presents risks of emotional harm to children.
Neglect
Neglect is failure to meet a child's basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, sleep, medical attention, dental care, education and protection from harm. This can occur when parents don't know about appropriate care for children or are having extreme financial difficulties and need assistance.
Young children should never be left unattended. This includes leaving a young child in a car alone, with or without the doors being locked even if only for a short time. In addition, teens should never be left alone for a weekend without some form of adult supervision.
Caregiver With a Problem
The parent has a problem that has resulted in or may result in harm to a child. For example the parent has an addiction or mental health problem that interferes with their ability to care for a child or the parent lacks the skills necessary to keep a child safe or provide for adequate care and /or supervision.
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