Some daycare facilities don’t live up to their promises to parents. While such a situation may be inconvenient, there are others that are much more dangerous. In some cases, abuse in daycare may go on for a very long time before parents realize that it’s even happening. Despite the fact that most parents are always on the lookout for any threat to their child or children’s well-being, there are cases where abusers are very good at concealing their activities and where a daycare facility may unintentionally or intentionally help them in this effort.
One of the hardest things about rooting out abuse is establishing that it’s even going on. Nobody wants to accuse a facility of daycare abuse and be wrong about it. After all, there are few things as despicable as abusing children—if there is anything at all quite so despicable—and no one in their right mind wants to level such a charge at anyone else unless they’re very sure. As a parent, there are things you can do to determine if a problem has manifested at the facility.
First and foremost, your child should be your most important resource. One very serious caveat with asking your child about such issues, however, has to do with inadvertently coaching them into confirming your worries and suspicions. There are other ways you can listen to your child so that you’re wary of the signs of abuse.
Pay attention to your child’s personality and, particularly, to any changes you see. It’s natural for children to change a lot as they mature—developing your personality is a huge part of growing—but, as is the case with adults, sudden changes in personality are not normal. If your child becomes defiant, truculent, fearful or timid, especially when the conversation is about the facility or when taking them to the facility, it’s a sign that you need to take a closer look.
Have a doctor examine any injuries you see on your child. You can be very certain that doctors understand what kind of injuries children normally sustain from play and which ones are signs of abuse. If you have suffered abuse at the hands of a daycare, talk to an attorney. You may be able to sue for damages and get money that could help you and your family recover from the affects of having been victimized.