Types of Daycare Abuse Children May Face
It is important to recognize that there are many different types of daycare abuse and daycare negligence. Generally speaking, daycare abuse falls into one of three categories:
- Physical abuse
- Emotional or psychological abuse
- Sexual abuse
Each of these forms of abuse can be difficult to detect – children are prone to falling down and injuring themselves or may be afraid to tell you what happened. In some cases, the child may have even been persuaded to believe that what happened wasn’t wrong. When your child experiences an injury, an Atlanta daycare abuse lawyer can investigate your case and build the evidence you need to protect your child’s future.
Atlanta Daycare Abuse Lawyer Explains Physical Abuse in Children
Physical abuse includes any physical harm inflicted upon your child such as hitting, kicking, shoving, or knocking them to the ground. The following signs may indicate that your child is the victim of physical abuse:
- Unexplained cuts, bruises, welts, burns, or other injuries
- Bone fractures
- Torn clothing
- Skin discoloration
- A pattern of injuries over an extended period of time
Of course, not every injury indicates that they are being abused, but you should pay attention if your child or the daycare cannot explain their injuries or your child seems unwilling to talk about what happened. That said, trust your instincts if you suspect your child is being abused, and contact an Atlanta daycare abuse lawyer right away.
Emotional and Psychological Abuse of Children
Emotional and psychological abuse can be somewhat more difficult to identify than physical abuse and can include a broad variety of abusive behavior:
- Verbally abusing or belittling your child alone or in front of others
- Terrorizing your child
- Corrupting or exploiting your child
- Isolating or restraining your child
- Rejecting or neglecting your child
Again, your child may not understand this to be abuse or may be unwilling to discuss it with you. As a result, be aware that the following behaviors in your child may indicate that they are being emotionally or psychologically abused:
- They seem excessively shy or withdrawn around other children or adults
- They make harsh, critical comments about themselves
- They display sudden cruel, aggressive, or angry behavior with little or no provocation
- They engage in self-harm or other self-destructive behaviors
Children can suffer life-long effects from emotional and psychological abuse suffered while in daycare. An experienced Atlanta daycare abuse lawyer will be able to help you and your child reclaim your lives.
Sexual Abuse at Atlanta Daycares
No parent ever wants to imagine that their child is the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of their daycare provider. And unfortunately, abusers go to great lengths to hide their actions, threatening your child or otherwise convincing them to not tell anyone about what they are doing. The following signs may indicate that your child is being sexually abused:
- Pain or itching in their genitalia
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Unexplained torn clothing, soiled or bloody underwear
- Development of an STD
- Sudden use of sexual language or display or sexual behavior
- Sudden personality changes
- Nightmares and other difficulty sleeping
Sexual abuse often results not only in physical harm to the child, but can also cause long-term emotional and psychological trauma. If your child has been sexually abused at daycare, an Atlanta daycare abuse attorney can help you hold the daycare accountable.