Health 4 Kids Articles
Selected Articles Posted On This Page
Recognizing Child Abuse
Report by Richard Hackworth
The Following Signs May Signal The Presence of Child Abuse or Neglect
The Child
Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
Lacks adult supervision
Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home
The Parent
Shows little concern for the child
Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child's problems in school or
at home
Asks teachers or other caretakers to use harsh physical discipline if the child
misbehaves
Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional need
The Parent and Child
Rarely touch or look at each other
Consider their relationship entirely negative
State that they do not like each other
Types of Abuse
The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is important to note, however, these types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:
- Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
- Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school
- Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home
- Shrinks at the approach of adults
- Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
- Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury
- Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way
- Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
- Has a history of abuse as a child
Signs of Neglect
Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:
- Is frequently absent from school
- Begs or steals food or money
- Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses
- Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
- Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
- Abuses alcohol or other drugs
- States that there is no one at home to provide care
Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:
- Appears to be indifferent to the child
- Seems apathetic or depressed
- Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner
- Is abusing alcohol or other drugs
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:
- Has difficulty walking or sitting
- Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
- Reports nightmares or bed wetting
- Experiences a sudden change in appetite
- Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
- Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
- Runs away
- Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
- Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex
- Is secretive and isolated
- Is jealous or controlling with family members
Signs of Emotional Maltreatment
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:
- Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression
- Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)
- Is delayed in physical or emotional development
- Has attempted suicide
- Reports a lack of attachment to the parent
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:
- Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child
- Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's problems
- Overtly rejects the child
Be Aware And Do Not Let Someone You Love Become A Victim!
If you do suspect a child is being harmed, reporting your suspicions may protect the child and get help for the family. Contact your local child protective services agency or police department. For more information about where and how to file a report, call the Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline (1.800.4.A.CHILD).
How Marital Arts Has Helped Me Through My Life
By Dominique Zaino
At age thirteen years old, I have accomplished many things in my life time with the Martial Arts. I am currently a first degree black belt in the style of Japanese/Okinawan GoJo- Ryu and Kubudo. I have been studying the Marital Arts since the age of three, along with my brothers Tony and Joey Zaino. Not only do the Martial Arts give me self discipline and respect but it also teaches me manners and patience. All these things are good values to have in life. Martial Art training has kept me in shape as well and has helped me with every other sport I participate in.
Besides staying busy with the Martial Arts I am the head captain of the cheer leading squad for Jupiter Middle School of Technology, I do gymnastics at Keeping Flippin Gymnastics studio, I am head anchor and assistant director of my Jupiter Middle Schools news crew, and I am trying out this year for Jupiter Middle Schools county track team.
Martial Art training has helped me with everything I do in life. When it comes to school the Marital Arts gives me confidence to study hard and do my work efficiently and to get good grades. It gives me great manners around others and respect around elders. My whole family studies the martial arts as well. What I like most about the marital arts is it brings my family together. Unlike team sports or other youth activities Martial Art training is something that we can all do together giving us fun family time. We all work as one team and always get to spend time together. When we travel to an event or a performance show my family and I have a great time and make the trip fun and almost like a mini vacation. The Marital Arts has made me strong and as I practice more and more I get stronger and the better I become.
The martial Arts always keep me focused and ready when things come unexpectedly. My dad, Danny Zaino, who has been studying the martial arts for over 30 years, is the co founder of the national martial arts karate team "Team Pepsi" which has been running for 7 years. Team Pepsi is what I love most in the martial arts because we are a professional karate team that always puts on entertaining and exciting shows. When we perform we always leave the audience with smiles and a great show.
My dad always encourages my brothers and me in the martial arts and that's why I think I have the skills and technique I have today. My mom Theresa Zaino runs the Team Pepsi equipment and makes sure our shows run smoothly and the team has everything set and ready to go and do an awesome show. She is the karate mom and helps me in the marital arts by giving me confidence and is always keeping her head up high and her hopes up for the team. More than that, my mom is a role model to me and the other girls on the team.
I like being a part of Team Pepsi because we get to do it all, from performance shows, kick boxing, and competing and that is what makes me an all around great martial artist. What I also love to do in the martial arts is competing. I love the dragline feeling when I'm competing and when you win it makes you feel like your training has really paid off and it is exciting to reach a new goal. As you can see the martial arts has really helped me through out my life and keeps me on the right track. As my dad always says it keeps you busy and away from drugs and alcohol and keeps your mind focused to get good grades in school. No matter what happens, I will always stick to the martial arts because it makes me an all around better person and you never know what it might do for me in the future.
Subscribe to Health4Kids Newsletter To Receive Updates, Announcements, Resources, Special Links To Lots Of Free Downloads, New Articles,Topics
Health 4 Kids Partners
| American Dragon Online | Nutrition2Success Health-E Information and Articles |
| Richard Hackworth Health Wealth Success | World Martial Arts Magazine |
| Weight Loss Tips | Nutriblog |