Child abuse is when an adult or teenager hurts a child’s body or feelings on purpose. Sometimes abuse may seem like an accident, but it may still be child abuse. Neglect is when a parent or someone else who takes care of you does not give you the things you need to be safe and healthy. Child abuse and neglect are against the law because most adults think that kids are really important and deserve to be safe.

Here are some types of child abuse and neglect:

Physical Abuse: Physical abuse is when a parent or someone who takes care of you (like a babysitter, teacher, or another adult) hurts a child’s body. Physical abuse often leaves a mark (like a bruise) or causes an injury (like a broken bone), but not always. Sometimes, parents spank their kids if they do something wrong. This is usually not child abuse unless you are spanked so hard that it leaves a mark. Physical abuse may be hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, biting, burning, or anything else that could really hurt a kid. Even if you did something wrong, these things are not good ways to punish a child. Physical abuse is never the kid’s fault. If you are being hurt but don’t know if it is physical abuse, talk to an adult you trust or click here for more tips on what to do.

Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse can be a lot of different things. It can be when someone looks at you or touches you in your private parts in a way that makes you uncomfortable. It can be when someone shows you his or her private parts or asks you to touch them in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. It can also be when people try to show you videos, websites, or other things showing private parts. It can be anything that has to do with private parts that you think is wrong or makes you feel uncomfortable. Sexual abuse is not when your parents or teachers are giving you information about your body, like in health class.
      In general, no one should ever look at or touch your private parts [the parts that are covered by your bathing suit] without your permission. No one should touch your private parts and ask you to keep it a secret. It is okay for your doctor to check these parts of your body when he or she is examining you. It is okay for moms, dads, and other people taking care of you to help little kids in the bathroom and help them get dressed. But if anyone, even your mom or dad, wants to look at your private parts or touches them in a way that makes you feel funny or uncomfortable, this might be sexual abuse or it might not be sexual abuse.
      Sexual abuse can be very confusing for a kid because the kid may have said it was okay and it might have even felt good. It might seem like it was your fault or that you did something bad, but sexual abuse is never the kid’s fault! Most adults know this and would not blame you no matter what happened. If someone is making you uncomfortable, but you don’t know if it is sexual abuse talk to someone you trust or click here for more tips on what to do.

Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse happens when someone in your family makes you feel very bad about yourself or unloved over a period of time. It is not like the regular kinds of arguments that sometimes happen in families. Parents and kids and brothers and sisters often have arguments, but it is not usually emotional abuse. It is emotional abuse when your parents, the people who take care of you or your brothers or sisters often say very mean and hurtful things to you and treat you in a way that makes you feel like you are not important and maybe even like they don’t love you very much. This can feel really bad, but emotional abuse is never the kid’s fault. If you are not sure if you are being emotionally abused, you might want to talk it over with someone you trust or even ask to talk to a counselor at school. You can also call the child protection agency in your state (click here for phone numbers). You can tell them what’s happening and they can give you advice. You don’t have to use your name until you feel comfortable.

Physical Neglect: Physical neglect is when a parent or someone who takes care of you cannot give you the things you need to stay healthy and safe - like food, the right clothing for the weather, or a place to live. If your parent or another adult who takes care of you does not take you to the doctor when you are sick, leaves you at home without an adult for a long time, or doesn’t watch out for you, this also may be physical neglect. Adults usually do not want to neglect their children. Some families do not have enough money to buy food or clothing. But physical neglect can still hurt both your body and your feelings. Some kids blame themselves for not having things like clothes or food or parents around to take care of them...but it is never the kid’s fault. If you don’t know whether something is physical neglect or not, talk to an adult you trust or click here for more tips on what to do.