How to tell if your Child is being Abused at School

(575 Words)
Every day children are abused at schools. Sometimes it is by a teacher, other times it is by another student and other times it is by yet a different person. This abuse may be verbal, emotional, physical and even sexual. It is vital for parents to find out when their children are being abused so that they can take steps to stop the behavior. There are a variety of signs that could signal a problem.
The child has physical markings
One of the most obvious signs of physical abuse are scars. You should constantly watch your child for any scars, bumps, bruises, etc. that seem unusual. Ask your child about any that they get. If they seem to be large or frequent in nature, then you may want to bring the matter up with the school.
Children that are being abused often do not want their parents to find out. The abuser may have threatened them or they may be embarrassed or scared. They may use clothing to cover up any bruises. If your child is suddenly covering himself or herself up more, then you may want to consider that possibility.
The child becomes withdrawn
An abused child is often withdrawn. They may not speak to others. They may seem sad a lot of the time. You may find your child crying for seemingly no reason. They may seem more anxious, agitated and angry.
The child acts scared
Children who are abused are often very fearful. He or she may get scared at innocuous stimuli. Every noise may cause him to jump or flinch.
If the abuse is happening at school, then the child may not want to go to school. He or she will do everything in their power to avoid it. Also, your child may suddenly start skipping school without a good reason. He or she can pretend to be sick or try other tactics to get out of going.
The child become violent
Children who are abused will often act out the same behavior on others. If your normally calm child starts to become violent with you or others then this could be a sign of abuse.
Also consider his or her words and actions. Children who are abused may say inappropriate things. They may yell or call others names.
The child’s grades suffer
If your child’s grades suddenly take a nosedive, then you want to find out why. Children who are being abused may not be able to focus on their studies.
The child
Social relationships change all the time with children, however an abused child could make major changes very quickly. He or she may shun once beloved friends either because they are the abuser or because of embarrassment.
Of course, many of the above signs will happen to children for many reasons that are not abuse. It is important not to jump to conclusions, but to be on the lookout for a pattern or different signs that come together to point to abuse.
If you believe that your child is being abused it is important to take immediate action. Confront your child. Although many will never say a word to you on their own, they may tell you everything with only one question from you. Go to the school and/or authorities if you believe that your child is being abused. The sooner you can do something, the sooner your child can return to his true job: being a child.