Sometimes, parents learn that abuse has been going on at their children’s daycare when they had no suspicions at all beforehand. There are times when this knowledge may come as a complete surprise and there are times when the parents might have known something was wrong, but when they hadn’t expected the abuse to be as bad as turns out to be the case. If you find yourself in this position, here are some first steps to help you deal with the issue.
1: Talk to Your Child
Talk to your child about what’s going on and see if they have anything to share with you. They may be hiding something about which they’re ashamed. If you suspect this to be the case, have them talk to a counselor. Make sure the counselor specializes in working with children.
2: Get an Exam
Schedule an exam with your child’s doctor so that the doctor can check for signs of abuse. They may be there, but it sometimes takes a skilled eye to identify them. It’s also possible for a parent to misidentify mundane injuries as signs of abuse, so a physician’s opinion is very helpful.
3: Talk to Other Parents
If you know some of the other parents with children at the facility, reach out to them. It’s helpful to talk to people in the same situation so that you have more input on what’s going on.
4. Pay Attention to the Media
Sometimes, the media will get good information from the police. Knowing anything about what’s going on can help you to deal with the stress of first finding out. You’ll also be able to determine where the criminal case may be headed and whether or not the abuser has been identified.
5: Cooperate with the Authorities
The authorities will probably want to talk to you and your child. Remember, however, that children who haven’t been abused won’t be of much interest to the authorities, in all likelihood, so you may only have to meet them once or twice. If your child was a victim, the authorities will need to speak with your child more than that, in all likelihood.
In addition to the criminal case, you can file a civil suit for compensation when your child has been the victim of daycare child abuse. A daycare abuse lawyer can meet with you to discuss your options.