The subject of child abuse is unsettling, and yet it?s shockingly common; one in three Canadians say they?ve suffered from it. Here’s what you need to know.
What is considered child abuse"
Social workers, police officers and other child-care professionals operate under set, shared guidelines. Child abuse is an umbrella term that includes five types of maltreatment?physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional harm, neglect and exposure to family violence. Jessica Allen*, a registered social worker in British Columbia who spoke on the condition of anonymity (her employer has a strict media policy), explains that child abuse is defined as behaviour or actions that cause some kind of physical, sexual or emotional harm?threatening a child?s safety, survival, development, self-esteem or ability to thrive. ?What wouldn?t be considered child abuse or neglect is parenting in poverty?this is not, automatically, neglect, although it can be a contributing factor,? she says. ?Neither is losing your temper once and yelling at your child in an isolated incident.? What is physical abuse"
Physical abuse is deliberate physical force, including severe punishments that unintentionally injure a child: hitting, shaking, punching, kicking, biting, pushing, choking, grabbing, slapping, burning.
Physical signs: bruises; fractures; bite marks; welts; cuts; injuries in various stages of healing; injuries inconsistent with a child?s developmental stage.
Behavioural signs: child can?t rememb...