What is Child Abuse?

The U.S. federal government* defines child abuse as, at a minimum:

Any act or failure to act by any person under circumstances which indicate that a child’s health, welfare and safety is harmed. This may result in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or

An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.
Note, harm caused to a child by others can also be considered a criminal matter.

The four most commonly recognized types of abuse against a child are listed here and can occur separately or in combination with one another:

1. Physical abuse
2. Neglect
3. Emotional abuse
4. Sexual abuse/exploitation

*The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is federal legislation that provides a foundation for States by identifying minimum standards that define child abuse and neglect.

Each type of abuse has specific signs that a child may have been abused. There are many other potential behavioral signs that may suggest a child has been or may be currently being abused. The following signs are more general in nature and not specific to any one area of abuse:

• Cowering or demonstrating fear of adults.
• Acting out, displaying aggressive, opposition, defiance or disruptive behavior.
• Destructiveness to self or others.
• Coming to school too early or not wanting to leave school — indicating a possible fear of going home.
• Sudden disinterest in going to school — indicating a possible fear of going to school.
• Fearlessness or extreme risk taking.
• Cheating, stealing, or lying.
• Inability to form peer relationships.
• Wearing clothing that covers the body and that may be inappropriate in warmer months (be aware that this may be a cultural issue and not a sign of abuse).
• Showing regressive or immature behavior.
• Shrinking from physical contact.