Daycare abuse is not always obvious. There are some cases where the abused child is too young to even express what’s going on. In these cases, keep an eye out for some classic signs that someone is being abused.
- Sudden depression or shame
- Withdrawal from social situations
- Fear of adults
- Flinching as if afraid of being struck
- Crying, temper tantrums or other outbursts without provocation
- Acting much younger than the child’s true age
- Language that seems age-inappropriate either up or down in years
These signs are all ones that children who are being abused are known to exhibit at times. There are some abusers who will threaten children to keep them quiet about the abuse in daycare. This can make the abuser very difficult to root out and the abuse itself difficult to detect. The child may be intimidated by threats against their family, their friends, their pets or anyone else to whom they’re attached. Some abusers are very good at scaring kids into being quiet, so it’s important to make sure you pay attention to your child’s behavior regarding the daycare.
Your child may act up severely when being taken to the daycare. This is sometimes a sign of daycare child abuse. There are other reasons that a child may do this, such as separation anxiety or a simple bad mood. However, these things will tend to diminish as the child becomes more comfortable at daycare. If it continues, and gets worse, it may be time to talk to other parents. Take your child to your doctor to have them looked at. There are few types of physical abuse a physician cannot detect if they do a thorough exam and is there is cause to believe that abuse is going on.
Don’t hesitate to contact a daycare abuse lawyer if you and your child have been the victims of abuse. There is sometimes a statute of limitations on these cases. Some firms are experts in this field and know how to handle these problems as effectively, and compassionately, as possible. The most important thing, however, is that the abuse is halted immediately. Law enforcement should always be notified if you know for certain that abuse is going on at a facility. You may wish to talk to an attorney if you suspect it may be going on at yours.