One of the most maddening things about abuse in daycare is that it can be very difficult to detect. In some cases, the children being abused may not be old enough to really explain what’s going on. You may have to rely on reading their behavior to determine if it’s likely that something is wrong. In other cases, you may find that the abusers are experts at covering their tracks and at discouraging children from speaking up. This can make the nightmare go on even longer. One thing you can do to prevent yourself and your child from becoming victims is to demand to know about the background checks given to staff at your daycare.
There have been plenty of cases, in Texas and in other places, where daycare abuse has been allowed to go on for a long time because the facility didn’t even know they had an abuser on staff. Felons have been found working with children. This sometimes happens because the facility doesn’t bother to check all of the members of its staff. It may only check those staff members who are supposed to be working with children and ignore those who don’t work with children, but who still have access to them.
Ask your facility point blank how they background check the staff. Make sure that this extends to the entire staff. If a daycare doesn’t check all the people that work with or in proximity to children at their facility, it may be a case of daycare negligence. Negligence is one of the most common reasons that people sue daycare providers. It’s sometimes not the direct actions, but the inaction and sometimes outright incompetence of some facilities that allow abuse to continue on for very long times.
If you believe there is daycare abuse going on at any facility, it is a matter for law enforcement first and foremost. Talk with other parents to get their feelings on the matter. Watch out for signs such as bruises and scrapes that cannot be explained. If your child seems perpetually on edge or is suddenly prone to bizarre outbursts, these should be considered warning signs. Visit your doctor to have them give your child a checkup. They are experts at detecting the signs of physical abuse, and if it is present, it’s important that it’s documented right away for future action.