Think back to your childhood Remember that time your parents smacked you on the butt or slapped your hand when you did something wrong? It hurt your feelings and you thought your parents hated you. Now you realize they did it because they wanted you to know between right and wrong. Now think of those children who are not so lucky. They don"t know what is right and what is wrong. No matter what they do they are abused by the most important people in their lives, their parents. You felt hurt when your parents spanked you but imagine how neglected children feel when they are abused over and over again. Your life does not seem so bad now. Although the blame goes to the parents, internal and external damage abuse occurs for both the children and the adults.
What is child abuse? Many people do not understand all the types if abuse that fall under child abuse. "Child abuse occurs when a person who has the care or custody of a child causes or allows the child to suffer any on the following: physical harm, such as external or internal bruises, burns, fractures, wounds, brain damage, or poisoning; malnutrition (including dehydration) or mental ill-health of a degree that if not immediately treated could seriously impair growth and development or result in permanent injury or death; or sexual molestation." (Check, William A.).
There are four basic types of child abuse. "Physical abuse is characterized by the infliction of physical injury as a result of punching, kicking, biting, burning, shaking or otherwise harming the child. Child neglect is characterized by failure to provide for the child's basic needs. Sexual abuse includes fondling a child's genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials." (U.S. Department of Health) .
"Emotional abuse includes acts or omissions by the parents or other caregivers that have caused, or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders.