In honor of April being National Child Abuse Prevention month, it is the responsibility of early childhood professionals to recognize signs of abuse and neglect and know the procedures for helping the children and their families.
Caregivers’ Responsibilities:
- Know your state’s law and regulations
- Be familiar with signs
- Keep written records of your observations
- Teach children self-protection strategies
- Report cases of suspected abuse or neglect
- Provide a stable, secure, consistent loving environment
- Help build a strong, positive relationship between parents and their children
Child abuse is like a virus - an infection that is often passed on from one person to another. This infection spreads very quickly to others in the population. Unless you avoid people altogether, it is almost impossible to go a day without encountering someone that has either been abused, is or has abused someone, or is very close to someone that has experienced an awful situation. The ‘virus’ infects the entire community with callousness and cynicism, anger and violence, crime, drugs, and disease. The effects of child abuse are often a life-long problem and process that many need to go through. Children that are abused are missing out on the joy of childhood. Abused children also have poor self-image, low self-esteem, depression, and inability to love and trust other people.
85 to 90% of the abusers are people the children know. Therefore, do not be afraid of the stranger, but rather be aware of those that have access to your children – the coach, the teacher, the neighbor, the relative.
Teach children self-protection strategies:
- Reinforce rules through books, role-playing, and examples
- Goal is to empower children
- Never take a gift from a stranger
- Never go anywhere with a stranger
- Only talk to people you do not know when you are with your mom or dad
- Your body is your personal property
- Never let anyone touch the private parts
- Teach the children that they ‘swimsuit area’ are the place on your body that no one should touch.
- Talk to children about safety – teach them to use the telephone
Resources for Early Childhood Professionals and Parents: