Signs of Abuse in a Child

Ensuring your child’s safety at all times is a top priority. Unfortunately, you can’t always be with your child. While there are laws that protect children from abuse in schools by teachers, coaches, caregivers, teacher aides, music teachers, school staff, etc., child abuse in schools still occurs. But the child abuse signs are not always obvious, and children might not even realize that they are being abused. While not all these signs prove that your child is being abused at school, they can help in determining if something’s wrong.

Signs of Physical Abuse in Children

Some of the most common warning signs of physical abuse in school include:

• Unexplained bust, bruises, abrasions, burns, or welts
• Unexplained sprains or broken bones
• Unexplained scars

A child may also exhibit behavioral indicators of being physically abused, such as:

• Being wary of a certain person in school or adults in general
• Dressing inappropriately to conceal cuts, bruises, scars, or other injuries
• May be overly withdrawn or aggressive
• Shying away or flinching from touch or sudden movements
• Being violent to pets or other children
• Can’t recall or explain how they got an injury
• Does not want to go to school

Signs of Emotional Abuse in Children

The most common physical warning signs that a child is being emotionally abused in school include:

• Unexplained prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
• Unexplained bed soiling or wetting
• Regular psychosomatic complaints, such as stomach pains, nausea, headaches, etc.
• Hasn’t achieved significant developmental milestones

A child may also display these behavioral warning signs of emotional abuse in school:

• Symptoms of anxiety, depression, aggression, or withdrawal
• Severe developmental gaps
• Self-destructive behavior, such as self-harm
• Displays extreme inhibition when playing or attention-seeking behaviors
• Being overly compliant or too behaved or well-mannered
• Lack of self-confidence
• May copy or model negative language or behavior used by their abuser

Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children

There are certain physical indicators that a child is experiencing sexual abuse in school. These usually include:

• Bloody, stained, or torn underwear
• Redness, swelling, lacerations, bleeding, or bruising in the throat, genital, or anal area
• Bloody urine or feces
• Excessive or unusual pain or itching in the throat, genital, or anal area
• Sexually transmitted disease (STD)

Some behavioral warning signs that may indicate sexual abuse in children can include:

• Scared of certain places, like the bathroom
• Comments like “I don’t like this teacher… or “I have a secret…”
• Unusual, sophisticated, or weird sexual knowledge
• Sexual age-inappropriate play with self, toys, or others

Get Legal Guidance From an Experienced Santa Barbara Child Abuse Attorney Today

When your child suddenly doesn’t want to go to school or is afraid of going to school, stops participating in things they once enjoyed, withdraws from family and friends, and is having issues with school performance and behavior, these are classic warning signs that something’s wrong. While these may not always indicate child abuse, it’s best that you investigate the matter further before things escalate.

If you suspect that your child is being physically, emotionally, or sexually abused in school, get legal help immediately and discuss your situation with our Santa Barbara child abuse attorney at Bamieh & De Smeth. Dial 805-643-5555 or contact us online to arrange your free consultation with our Santa Barbara child abuse attorney.