Child Sexual Abuse: 6 Warning Signs

Children, no matter boys or girls, are the most common victims of sexual abuse these days. It is difficult for a child to identify and report that they are getting abused. This offers a great challenge for the parents. Sexual abuse can be touching or non-touching. It even includes taking pictures of children for sexual pleasure.

Knowing the common signs of child abuse will help you identify whether your child is facing any such problems. While considering child sexual abuse, we cannot predict who, when and where!

Child Sexual Abuse: 6 Warning Signs

So, it is better to make your child educate about this. Along with that, remember these child sexual abuse signs.

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Physical signs: Physical signs are the clearest evidence of a child sexual abuse. But, the chance of detecting this by yourself may depend on the age of your child. Soreness or bruises around the genitals or mouth, bleeding, unexplained pain while urinating, difficulty in walking properly and symptoms of sexually transmitted disease are the most common physical child sexual abuse signs.

Playing ‘it’ with toys: If you notice that your child is showing any sexual act while playing with toys or any other objects, chances are more that they have undergone sexual abuse. Ask them who taught this type of game or ask who play this game with you. Don’t make them tensed, but try to be very calm as if you are just interested.

Become introvert: Children who undergo sexual abuse are generally found to be withdrawn from public and are introvert. There are children who are basically shy. But, if you notice a sudden change in the behaviour of your child in terms of social contacts, chances are more that it is one of the child sexual abuse signs.

Love loneliness: Once experienced child abuse, children will develop fear and fright of everyone. This will force them to stay alone whenever possible. Another reason for trying to be alone is their fear of facing parent’s questioning. Assure them and bring them back to normal stage if you notice this type of sexual abuse signs.

Asking adult doubts: It is natural that children have doubts about sex as they grow. But, if you find that your child is asking doubts about sex, especially about sexual act, that are not supposed to be matching with their age, you can doubt it as one of the signs of child sexual abuse signs.

Secret friends: If you have a bit older child, you can doubt their new friends who are not social with you as one of the child sexual abuse signs. Probably, this will be an aged person. Note whether they talk about older friends often. Check whether your child is having money or gifts with them that cannot justify their explanations.

Story first published: Friday, April 25, 2014, 18:37 [IST]
Read more about: kids