Smart Safety: Child Abuse Prevention

There are so many myths and misunderstandings when it comes to child abuse, that most people are misinformed. What are the real facts?

 

Walt McKinley is author of the new book ‘Monsters In My House.’ (A true story) (https://www.waltmckinley.com/) If you look at Walt today, you’ll see all kinds of success as a retired Naval Intelligence Officer, former Fortune 300 executive, and a proud father and husband. You’d never know he used to be chained to his bed, locked in basements and severely beaten, tried to escape it all with a suicide attempt as a teenager or that he testified against his own father at just 16 years old.

 

5 of the biggest myths when it comes to child abuse:

 

1.      It’s difficult to spot child abuse: Most people believe the only obvious sign that a child is being abused is visible bruises on his or her body. However, there are plenty of other signs of child abuse to watch out for: a sudden drop in grades, dramatic changes in behavior, gets in with the wrong crowd, withdraws from pleasurable activities, appears emotionally out of it or dazed, is suicidal or exhibits signs of depression.

 

2.      Only parents are responsible for child abuse: When most people hear the words child abuse, they automatically think of a parent abusing a child. This is not always the case and the truth is abuse can come from anyone in that child’s life: older siblings, aunts and uncles, grandparents, neighbors, tutors, coaches, and even a friend.

 

3.      An abused child will report his abuser: Getting a child to open up or confront abuse is really difficult because most children won’t admit it. The abuser has instilled so much fear in the mind of the child and threatened such harsh consequences if they tell anyone, that most kids remain silent well into adulthood. This is why most abuse goes on for many years or throughout childhood.

 

4.      Child abuse isn’t a big problem anymore. This is completely false. Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S each year. In 2018, an estimated 1,770 children died from abuse and neglect in the United States. One out of three girls and one out of five boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18. About 80% of 21-year-olds who were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.

 

5.      All child abuse is physical: Child abuse can include physical acts like beatings and sexual abuse; however, 59% of child abuse cases are centered around neglect. Not only that, but emotional abuse usually goes along with physical abuse, and that includes things like degrading a child, calling them names, removing their self-esteem and self-confidence.