Child abuse and neglect on our kids

Child abuse and neglect and our kids

Your hands are for hugging not to abuse anyone, especially innocent child!!!

I’m sure many of you have different point of view on raising and parenting children. Some may say no one ever died from one spank; some may never dare to raise a hand on a child. Reality it’s different. These days it’s not easy to raise kids without discipline, but a number of parents or caregivers take punishment to a new level.

Every year hundreds of kids end up in hospitals, with very serious injuries from abuse. We shouldn’t let that happen to any child, not only ours. As a parent I try to protect my daughter as best as I can, but I know there are many kids that suffer from neglect and child abuse every day, it breaks my heart.

“Whether the abuse is physical, emotional, sexual, or neglect, the scars can be deep and long-lasting, often leading to future child abuse. You can learn the signs and symptoms of child abuse and help break the cycle, finding out where to get help for the children and their caregivers”.

From page: http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm

These numbers are not lying:

- 3 million cases of children being abused are reported each year in United States

(there are 3 times more neglects and abuse that never get to see daylight). In 2003 only 960 000 convictions made (DEFINITLY NOT ENOUGH!!!)

- 4 children die every day, most of them as young as 4 year olds

- Every 10 seconds, child abuse is being reported

- 1/3 children of abuse will continue the cycle by abusing other kids

- Abused children are more likely to have an addiction later on in life

http://www.childhelp.org/resources/learning-center/statistics

I could keep going with the list, but that won’t help. You reading this, supporting “Childhelp” organization and awareness of public can help a lot. You can help abused children…

Here are couple ideas, how to react in difficult situations:

You riding a bus and you see how a mother moves violently her child. On playground, your child‘s friend got couple hard spanks, just because he fell down on dirt. Outside your house you can hear very loudly babies cry. Your heart is breaking, on the other hand you think: those are his/hers parents they know what they are doing. What to do!? Don’t hesitate, react. Stand up for that child. (First of all, you can be certain that person is her/his parent. Second, even parents can’t cross the line!) Nobody likes when someone is sticking finger in their business, especially raising kids, but in situations like that we all should react. Even though it always bringing some unpleasant exchange of words, it’s usually brings effects. Because that parents anger gets concentrated on the person who brings up the subject! Think this way, by speaking up you helping that child.

How to react?

You can say it straight forward and calmly: “Please, don’t hit that child”. More likely the response would be right away-angry mom or dad (or caretaker) is concentrating their irritation on you: “That’s none of your business “. Your answer to that: “Please remember it’s against a law to abuse kids”. If this situation is in a public place, that parent won’t argue with you for long. If she/he will aggressive towards you, remember you can always mention police. And if that don’t help, call 991!

You can call these numbers too:

Child Abuse Hotlines: Where to call to get help or report abuse

· If you suspect a child is in immediate danger contact law enforcement as soon as possible.

· To get help in the U.S., call:
1-800-4-A-CHILD ( 1-800-4...) – Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline

· To get help for child sexual abuse, call:

1-888-PREVENT ( 1-888-773-8368 ) – Stop It Now

1-800-656-HOPE Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)

When you hear kids screams from your neighbor’s house, don’t be afraid to knock on a door. You can always say you run out of salt, can you borrow some- it will help you see what’s going on. Maybe mom is yelling to her kid, just because he can’t hear her and nothing bad is happening. What if the child is being abused and hurt! If you think there is something not right going on, don’t hesitate to go for help.

Why is it so important?

Your response has two important meanings. First, you help that child, and parents aren’t getting away with abuse and neglect, they know someone is watching them and will react if they do it again. And that’s the biggest step, to stop and think why they are hurting an innocent baby. Second, you will give that child a voice and feeling that there are people who will help him/her. Feeling that every child should have, there is a safety somewhere; that nice lady from the park or bus, kindly neighbor will keep him/her safe. That means not every adults are bad and they shouldn’t fear of them. It’s really worth it to get in ugly conversation with fuming mom, just to give that child a little light in a long tunnel. It’s called HOPE…

The signs and warnings in child abuse and neglect, what to look for?

First keep safe your own children, keep reminding him/her that no one should be hitting them (not a friend from playground, not a teacher or grandma) no one! Constantly repeat if anything like that occurs to don’t be afraid to tell you, and it’s very important to tell as soon as they can. On your part be extremely sensitive to any changes in your child. What should get your attention? When you rise your voice and your sweetheart get scared and never did before. You notice changes on skin, that don’t have good explanation, aggression in playtime (action figures or dolls are fighting between each other) disrupted sleep or wet bed at night… if you notice any of these, try to ask child what happen, why he got scared when you raised voice, or who is she/he pretending to yell at. Sometimes they will share their secret with you, and you can find out that grandma yells, or teacher spanks if you don’t behave… Trust your kids. Maybe raised voice by grandma seems scarier than it really is, or teacher is being mean only because they don’t allow them to walk around during class. But remember that the fear is creating is real. Talk to people who take care of your baby, it’s not only your responsibility but your right too. They can get offend it, but your child’s safety comes first.

What does abuse mean to child?

Child abuse is taking away their safety net. Especially, by whom they are being abuse. Person who they should adore, trust and share unconditionally love. Safety is broken or taken away not only by every day abuse, even occasionally spank is a shock to child.

REMEMBER HANDS ARE FOR HUGGING NOT HITTING!!!

Even though I don’t write much about other types of abuse, it’s happening every 5-10 seconds. You can read more about types of abuse, signs, who is mostly abused,, where to get help and how to help these kids; on web sites listed in article.

I read an old article from last year: “Report: 23 kids died from abuse, neglect last year” to read full article: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/report_23_kids_died_from_abuse.html

Got me to write article in memory of these and other kids. We can help keep them safer, every year many children goes missing, dead, bitten and more. As a single mom it breaks my heart and can’t stop thinking about those angels. Knowing that by public awareness we can help prevent children’s abuse, by ACTING.

http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/fatality.cfm

Childhelp^® is a national organization that provides crisis assistance and other counseling and referral services. The Childhelp^® National Child Abuse Hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with professional crisis counselors who have access to a database of 55,000 emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls are anonymous. Contact them at 1.800.4.A.CHILD. (1.800.422.4453)