“Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.”
― Dave Pelzer
The childhood phase is that innocent phase of our lives where we aren’t compelled to worry about something. The sole issue on our minds is what to play today? What to study? Kids are naïve, innocent, pure-hearted, and evangelical with a mind packed with dreams; all sunshine and rainbows with unicorns and superheroes.
But what if all their dreams lead to their innocence getting shattered in a blink of an eye? What if they lose their optimism and begin to retrospect themselves? What if they begin to lie and detach themselves from people?
What is Abuse? It’s the cruel and improper behavior towards a person or an animal to damage them, regularly. And if the abuse is done towards a child below the age of eighteen, it’s termed as child abuse.
There are four categories of child abuse-
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional
- Neglect
Abuse can be done by anyone, from strangers to family; and take place anywhere from reception, school, childcare, during a church, or any alternative non-secular building. Abuse can head to such a deadly extent that kids lose their lives. About five kids die each day as a result of abuse. Three out of five girls and one out of five boys become the victims of child abuse.
- PHYSICAL ABUSE:
Physical abuse is when a child has been hurt by somebody, which is not an accident; and might leave visible marks or injuries on a child’s body. If a kid has not performed up to the parents’ expectations in their academics, they punish the kid by raising their hands on them. This instance is extremely common since folks consider it to be a way to teach their kid obedience. Let’s pause and think, is striking a child the only way to make them obedient?
Parents typically don’t understand the impact it would cause on a child. Some kids let it slide, whereas some may be sensitive to it. Either way, raising a hand on a child isn’t an answer to unravel the matter. Sadly, consistent with the information, 70% of the youngsters are physically abused by their relatives.
Physical abuse includes-
- Hitting
- Shaking
- Choking
- Smothering
- Throwing
- Burning
- Poisoning
- Using Physical Restraints
- Biting
2. SEXUAL ABUSE:
Sexual abuse is when an adult, teenager, or child uses their power or force on a child to indulge in sexual activities. Although it is believed that only the girls are at the receiving end of the statutory offense, however, it can happen to any child regardless of the gender. As a result, the purpose of tormenting a toddler is served as they usually don’t hold any superiority over the opposite person. For instance, a young person may want to experiment with sexuality out of curiosity and do the same to a kid since children are gullible and innocent. Eventually, this could lead to a habit for the person to force themselves on the kid.
It’s obligatory to show kids the distinction between a good touch and a bad touch because it will enhance their instincts. It’s expressed that roughly 90% of the sexual abusers are known to the victim. Such incidents do not come to light since the child does not understand that he/she is being sexually abused. Sadly, around 25% of the female teenagers, who’re unaware of the case end up going through unwanted maternity.
3. EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Emotional abuse happens when a child is treated in such a way that it affects their emotional, and personal well-being. It is caused by-
- Rejection
- Teasing
- Bullying
- Yelling
- Criticism
- Isolation for a protracted period
- Exposure to any form of violence
Experiencing domestic or family violence at a young age constantly degrades the child’s emotional quotient and leads to trauma. Children who experience violence at home are at a greater risk of not having their basic needs met, which includes their protection, care, and support needs. 80% of teenagers or young adults are diagnosed with at least one psychological disorder caused by emotional abuse as a child.
Domestic and family violence can-
- Affect a child’s emotional well-being and intellectual development
- Offer them the absurd concept that violence is the only way to resolve any issue.
- Cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
4. NEGLECT:
Neglect happens when a child’s basic needs aren’t met that negatively impacts the child’s health and growth.
Basic needs include-
- Food
- Clean Living Conditions
- Healthcare
- Adequate Clothing
- Personal Sanitation
- Proper Supervision
No matter what the form of abuse a child is exposed to, there’s one factor in common. It’s the consequences the child has to face caused by such brutal acts. It leaves an emotional scar on their mind, which might be tough to get over. Several kids suffer from self-guilt, low vanity, self-blame, and believe they need to be treated with violence, etc. Such kids have a tough time trusting individuals around them which can lead to isolation and cutting ties from society. They notice themselves to be in a very tight spot where they find themselves losing hope, and are consumed by melancholy, hate, despair, rage, which may lead to suicide or self-harm.
These scars could infect their future by pushing them to run in the wrong direction. The analysis shows that kids with an abusive past seem to possess lower academic attainment and rely upon alcohol and drugs. Long-run physical and psychological difficulties, as well as depression, is also a consequence. Also, people who commit serious offenses tend to have suffered from abuse throughout their childhood.
As grown-ups, one should perceive a child’s behavior and reach out to them frequently which could make the child feel that they’re understood. Adults are not psychics, however, they should train kids in such a manner that if they’re abused, they report it directly to somebody they trust, which includes their folks, teachers, or any other adult they trust. If this approach doesn’t appear to figure things out, then they should consult a psychiatrist or a counselor as they will offer the guardian and the child with an insight for the matter. Eventually, the child may open up and facilitate themselves with the case.
Kids who let adults know that someone is hurting them, even if it’s someone they love, might help them as well as other kids. It takes a lot of courage to talk about such things, and sometimes it takes a while to feel strong enough to talk about it. Just know that, in the end, telling a safe person is the bravest thing a kid can do. It feels really good when a kid takes a step forward to stay safe and happy and stop any kind of abuse happening towards them.
