1. Why children reveal abuse
1.1. realising the abuse is wrong
1.2. not being able to cope any more
1.3. the abuse getting worse
1.4. wanting to protect other children
1.5. wanting the abuser to be punished
1.6. trusting someone enough to tell them
1.7. someone asks them directly.
2. Long- term consequences of Abuse
2.1. Can Cause Kids to feel:
2.1.1. Isolated
2.1.2. Fearful
2.1.3. Distrustful
2.2. Can Lead to:
2.2.1. Low self-esteem
2.2.2. Educational Difficulties
2.2.3. Depression
2.2.4. Trouble forming and maintaining relationships.
3. What to do if a child tells you they are being abused
3.1. Give them the tools to talk
3.1.1. If they're struggling to talk to you, show them Childline's letter builder tool. It uses simple prompts to help them share what's happening and how they're feeling.
3.2. Listen carefully to what they're saying
3.2.1. Be patient and focus on what you’re being told. Try not to express your own views and feelings. If you appear shocked or as if you don’t believe them it could make them stop talking and take back what they’ve said.
3.3. Let them know they've done the right thing by telling you
3.3.1. Reassurance can make a big impact. If they’ve kept the abuse a secret it can have a big impact knowing they’ve shared what’s happened.
3.4. Tell them it's not their fault
3.5. Abuse is never a child’s fault. It’s important they hear, and know, this.
3.6. Say you'll take them seriously
3.6.1. They may have kept the abuse secret because they were scared they wouldn’t be believed. Make sure they know they can trust you and you’ll listen and support them.
3.7. Don't confront the alleged abuser
3.7.1. Confronting the alleged abuser could make the situation worse for the child.
3.8. Explain what you'll do next
3.8.1. For younger children, explain you’re going to speak to someone who will able to help. For older children, explain you’ll need to report the abuse to someone who can help.
3.9. Report what the child has told you as soon as possible
3.9.1. Report as soon after you’ve been told about the abuse so the details are fresh in your mind and action can be taken quickly. It can be helpful to take notes as soon after you’ve spoken to the child. Try to keep these as accurate as possible
4. Ways to Prevent Child Abuse
4.1. Discipline your children thoughtfully.
4.2. Examine your behavior.
4.3. Educate yourself and others.
4.4. Teach children their rights.
4.5. Support prevention programs.
4.6. Know what child abuse is.
4.7. Know the signs.
5. Types of Abuse
5.1. Physical Abuse
5.1.1. Physical abuse is defined as physical injury inflicted on a child by other than accidental means.
5.2. Sexual Abuse
5.2.1. Child sexual abuse, also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.
5.3. Emotional Abuse
5.3.1. Emotional abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child.
5.4. Exploitation
5.4.1. Child exploitation is when someone uses a child for financial gain, sexual gratification, labour or personal advantage.
5.5. Neglect
5.5.1. Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child's basic needs and the most common form of child abuse.