Abuse Affects Children Development

Physical abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts. This can also be when a parent or career induces illness on a child; this can be through giving the child medicine they don’t need to make them unwell. The signs a child could be going through this are, being withdrawn from activates and playing with children, being clingy, not eating properly, having trouble sleeping, wetting the bed and being anxious within them self.

Physical abuse is “the mistreatment of a child that causes physical injury, impairment, or endangerment.” (Layman 15) It accounts for about 25 percent of abuse cases. (Moses) Children who have been abused usually show certain signs. They tend to be apathetic and withdrawn, but at the same time, constantly scanning their environment for danger. (Oates 43) Physical abuse can leave all kinds of injuries.

Physical abuse involves hitting, kicking, poisoning, burning and shaking or causing harm to a child, and it can occur when parents fabricate symptoms, or purposely induces illness to a child (DfES, 2010). According to National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Children (NSPCC) (2013), explains that when parents are caring for children can sometimes be a struggle, and they can use punishment like hitting as a way to discipline them which can cause physical injuries such as scares and fracture, and the best way to do it is by setting boundaries, talking, explaining and listening which can be a better way than kicking or burning a child. However, according to Beckett (2003), described there those injuries that

Physical abuse also defined as non-accidental trauma or physical injury, of which can be caused by punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning or harming the child. Physical abuse is the most visible and second most common form of child maltreatment.

Child abuse consists of acts that endanger a child 's physical and emotional development. Physical abuse is defined as non accidental injury to a child, includes burns, cuts, bruises, hitting, whipping, throwing, having anti-social behavior, or having fear of adults. Emotional abuse is attitude or behavior that interacts with a child 's mental

Physical abuse is a non-accidental trauma which can refer to fractures or any other physical sign on the child’s body. Many children will have bruises, cuts, burns, and even bite marks. Physical child abuse is seldom ever a single event. Usually it occurs often and increasing in violence. A child abuser is usually close to the child, usually, but not all cases, a parent or guardian. Often the child feels they deserve this harsh punishment and most have very low self-esteem. Thus leading to developmental problems in school, very little friends, they may sit alone a lot and may be teased, or tease others and bully. Many children who have gone through physical abuse will also demonstrate some sort of negative behavior.

Physical abuse of a child is when a parent or caregiver causes any non-accidental physical harm to a child. Physical abuse may include, but is not limited to: striking, kicking, burning, biting, hair pulling, choking, throwing, shoving, or whipping. Even if the caregiver did not mean to cause harm, if the child is injured, the action is considered abuse.  Physical discipline from a parent that does not injure or impair a child is not considered abuse; however, non-violent alternatives are always available. There are signs that a parent or caregiver is causing physical harm to the child, and they include but are not limited to a history of violence/abuse, that keeps the child away from school, church, or clubs, delays or prevents medical care for the child, takes the child to different doctors or hospitals, displays aggression towards the child, is overly anxious about the child’s behavior, and last, cannot or will not explain the injuries of the child, or

“27% percent, of the 702,000 victims of Childhood Maltreatment, are under the age of Three.” (Child Maltreatment, 2014)

Physical abuse is intentionally inflicting pain onto a child as well as the failure to prevent or stop injury or suffering. For example, burning, scalding, suffocating, kicking and drowning all forms of physical abuse. There are many indicators of physical abuse which I have detailed in Appendix A.

In the past ten years researchers have increase their knowledge on the understanding of the different effects that maltreatment has on early brain development. A foundation has been set for the neurobiological explanations of children who have experienced sexual abuse in their early years of life. The explanations include areas of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional struggles. There are many different internal and external factors that associate with the way the child develops into adulthood. Variables that can be taken into account are individual factors and environmental factors. For example individual factors consist of children’s temperaments and vulnerability. In regards to environmental factors this contains how caregivers portray abuse along with overall family atmosphere. Some other specific variables associated with abuse are duration, amount of violence, and relationship between victim and abuser. In addition, age has a strong impact on the victim in regards to adult sexual behavior. When a child is abused at a young age he or she is more likely to engage in sexualized external behavior. At the age of six or younger, children have a higher chance to show their abuse through inappropriate and aggressive sexualized behavior. As for older children of twelve and up they lean more towards fear of sex. These children shoe more internal behavior problems as well (Aaron, 2012).

Physical abuse is direct harm to a child’s body. It can be one act or multiple acts. Injuries from physical abuse may be burns, bruises, or even lacerations. Demonstrations of

Physical and emotional abuse can originate from any source but the majority of the abuse generates from parental or adult figures and is direct toward a timid figure, typically a child. The abuser commonly chooses a more timid recipient because they will be less likely to stand up against the abuser. Physical abuse is maltreatment that involves actual contact between one body part of a person and an other body part of an other person, such as hitting or slapping. Emotional abuse consists of just the opposite: maltreatment that is directed to harming the individual psychologically, such as negative comments or put downs (National Exchange Club Foundation, 2000).

Physical abuse to a child is defined as a deliberate attempt to hurt or physically harm of the child. Child abuse is always a fearful thing for a child to go through. Children should not be beaten to death for no reason especially when it has nothing to do with them. In the article Child Physical Abuse, it explains, “Non-accidental trauma or physical injury caused by punching, kicking, or otherwise harming a child...” this quote helps to understand what extreme child abuse really is. (Child). Child Physical Abuse also states that “in 2001 only approximately 903,000 children were confirmed victims of maltreated abuse and an estimated of 1,321 children died as a result of abuse” (Child). This statement should alarm the population of how severe physical abuse towards a child can be. Children should not be dying due to abuse from parents.

According to the National Child Abuse Hotline over 28% of adults experienced physical abuse as a child. The results of physical abuse can range from internal injuries, brain damage, bruising, broken bones, cuts, burns and death ("What is Child Abuse.") . Signs of physical abuse often present as unexplained injuries and injuries that don’t match the given explanation such as bruises, fractures and burns or a high frequency of injuries. Untreated medical and dental problems are also common signs of physical abuse ("Child abuse Symptoms." ). Children experiencing physical abuse might display aggression towards peers, depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, and fear of parents or other adults. The parent or caregiver of the child’s might also display signs that they are abusing the child such as can’t or

As stated, children completely develop and become who they are early in life. Therefore, any major events, or off circumstances can permanently affect their personality. The environment at home is very important in a child’s upbringing. Therefore, if abuse is factored into this environment then negative results can occur. The book Family Violence by Debra Goldentyler focuses on various forms of abuse and its affects. One form of abuse commonly overlooked is verbal abuse. It is easy to lash out on children due to stress or other problems. However, this eventually can result in repetitive episodes of verbal abuse. Since children become so emotionally attached and dependent on their parents at such an early age, any negative thing a parent says