by Donna Ulett

Created on: November 30, 2009   Last Updated: December 02, 2009

Here are some of the most common warning signs of abused children Before jumping to conclusions, you must be certain before reporting it to the proper authorities. That's the law and it's extremely important when children are involved. Some of the signs are; a sudden change in behavior and school performance, complaining too much, passive, or withdrawn

Physical Abuse:

For physical abuse, the signs are; sores, burns, bruises on the body. The child refuses to tell you how they got them. However bruises and burns are the most common persistent physical symptoms.

Neglect: A neglected child is usually found with soiled diapers, dirty hair, unwashed clothes, and body odor. Sometimes they can be identified through weight loss and lackluster skin - those are some of the common signs of neglect.

Emotional or Mental Abuse:
In this case it's much harder to tell. Normally, an abused child will become quiet but that is not always a way to tell. A lack of self-esteem is also another way to tell but unfortunately that does not necessarily mean the child was abused.

Sexual Abuse:
Those can be warning signs of sexual abuse of children, also. Such as precocious behavior; sexual knowledge, either through language or behavior, that is beyond normal for their age; they tend to copy adult sexual behavior; inappropriate sexual advantage such as kissing on the mouth and/or trying to insert tongue in your mouth; there is soreness, redness, or chaffing around the genital area; the desire to sleep with parent of opposite sex in pre-teens or older children; reluctance or they refused to let you wash or dry those parts of the body; indulging in sexual play with other children, themselves, toys or pets.

Do you know that inappropriate touching is also sexual abuse? Therefore this is not uncommon, especially when alcohol or drugs are involved.

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