Signs of Physical Abuse

• Injury to a child who isn’t crawling yet
• Visible and severe injuries
• Injuries at different stages of healing on different surfaces of the body
• Any injury (Ie… bruise, burn, fracture, abdominal or head injury) that cannot be explained, or that doesn’t match up with the explanation given
• Distinctive shapes of bruising and injuries
• Frequent injuries after weekends, vacations, school absences
• Aggression toward other children or animals
• Seems afraid of parents or other adults
• Fear, withdrawal, depression, anxiety
• Is dressed inappropriately to hide bruises or other injuries
• Violent themes in fantasy, art, etc…
• Nightmares, insomnia
• Reports of injury or severe discipline
• Immaturity, acting out, emotional and behaviour extremes such as overly aggressive or extremely withdrawn
• Self-destructive behaviour or attitudes
• Cannot recall how the injuries occurred or give inconsistent explanations

Signs of Emotional Abuse

• Delayed or inappropriate emotional development
• Learning disabilities
• Speech disorders
• Habits like sucking, biting, rocking
• Bed-wetting or bed soiling that has no medical cause
• Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
• Headaches or stomachaches with no medical cause
• Health problems like ulcers, skin disorders
• Poor school performance or a sudden loss of interest in school
• Desperately seeks affection
• Dressed differently from other children in the family
• Has deprived physical living conditions compared with other children in the family
• May avoid certain situations or people
• Overly compliant or defensive, too well-mannered; too neat and clean
• Severe symptoms of depression, withdrawal or aggression
• Anxieties, phobias, sleep disorders
• Behaviour that is inappropriate for the child’s age (too adult, too infantile)
• Abnormal fears, increased nightmares, or attempts to run away
• Destructive or anti-social behaviours (violence, cruelty, vandalism, stealing, cheating, lying)
• When at play, behaviour may model or copy negative behaviour and language used at home
• Severe symptoms of self-destructive behaviour – self-harming, suicide attempts, engaging in drug or alcohol abuse 

Signs of Sexual Abuse

• Sexual behaviour or knowledge that’s inappropriate for the child’s age
• Abdominal pain
• Bed-wetting
• Genital pain, bleeding, bruises, swelling, itching of genital area or blood in the child’s underwear
• Difficulty sitting, walking, bowel problems
• Frequent urinary tract infections or yeast infections
• Inappropriate sexual contact with other children
• Age-inappropriate sexual play with toys, self, others
• Comments such as “I’ve got a secret”, or “I don’t like uncle”
• Fire lighting by boys
• Withdrawn, depressed, anxious
• Eating disorders, preoccupation with body
• Aggression, poor peer relationships, delinquency
• Poor self-image, poor self-care, lack of confidence
• Sudden absenteeism, decline in school performance
• Tries to make self as unattractive as possible
• Sleep disturbance, fear of bedtime, nightmares
• Substance abuse, running away, recklessness, suicide attempts
• Unusual or repetitive soothing behaviours (hand-washing, pacing, rocking, etc.)
• Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection/disease

Signs of Neglect

• Poor hygiene
• Very low body weight, height for age
• May show signs of malnutrition (like distended belly, protruding bones)
• Often tired, sleepy, listless
• Lack of clothing or supplies to meet physical needs
• Clothing that is the wrong size, in disrepair, dirty, or not right for the weather
• Voracious appetite or hiding food for later
• May steal food, money, or other necessary items
• Poor school attendance or school performance
• Inadequately supervised or left alone for unacceptable periods of time
• May have severe nappy rash or other persistent skin disorders or rashes resulting from improper care or lack of hygiene
• Demonstrates severe lack of attachment to other adults
• Lack of appropriate attention for medical, dental, or psychological problems or lack of  necessary follow-up care
• Poor social skills
• Talks about caring for younger siblings, not having a caregiver at home

Parental Behaviour

Sometimes a parent’s demeanour or behaviour sends red flags about child abuse. Warning signs include a parent who:

• Shows little concern for the child
• Appears unable to recognize physical or emotional distress in the child
• Blames the child for their problems
• Consistently belittles or berates the child, and describes the child with negative terms, such as “worthless” or “evil”
• Expects the child to provide him or her with attention and care and seems jealous of other family members getting attention from the child
• Uses harsh physical discipline
• Demands an inappropriate level of physical or academic performance
• Severely limits the child’s contact with others