Child Abuse vs Discipline - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Child Abuse vs DisciplineSlide2

Discipline

The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour using punishment to correct disobedienceSlide3

Child Abuse

Physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child.Slide4

Neglect

Failure to give due attention or care to a child resulting in serious emotional or physical harmSlide5

Behavioural Indicators

Frequent absence from school

Inappropriate acts or delinquent behaviour

Begging/Stealing food

Frequently tired

Seeks inappropriate affection

Mature for their age

Reports there is no caretakerSlide6

Physical Indicators

Poor hygiene

Unattended physical or medical needs

Consistent lack of supervision

Underweight, poor growth, failure to thrive

Constant hunger

Under nourished

Pale, unkept

Inappropriate clothing for the weather

Dirty clothesSlide7

Psychological / Emotional Abuse

Verbal attacks or demeaning actions that impact on a child’s self-esteem and self-worthSlide8

Behavioural Indicators

Depression

Withdrawl

or aggressive behaviour

Overly compliant

Too neat and clean

Habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking)

Learning disorders

Sleep disorders

Unusual fearfulness

Obsessive compulsive behaviour

Phobias

Extreme behaviour

Suicide attempts

Developmental delaysSlide9

Physical Indicators

Bed-wetting

Headaches

Nausea

Speech disorders

Lags in physical development

Disruptive behaviourSlide10

PHYSICAL ABUSE

The intentional use of force against a child resulting in injury or causing bodily harm

Behavioural

Physical

Inconsistent explanation of injuries

Wary

of adults

Flinches if touched unexpectedly

Extreme aggression or withdrawal

Feels deserving of punishment

Apprehensive when others cry

Frightened by parents

Afraid to go home

Injuries

Facial injuries

Injuries inconsistent with child’s age and developmental phaseSlide11

SEXUAL ABUSE

Any form of sexual conduct (touching, exploitation, intercourse) directed at a child

Behavioural

Physical

Sexual knowledge or play inappropriate to age

Poor peer relationships

Reports sexual assault

Change in performance at school

Sleeping disorders

Aggression

Self-abuse behaviours

Self mutilation

Unusual or excessive

itching in genital area

Injuries to genital area

Difficult walking or sitting

Pain when urinatingSlide12

What To Do

Believe in the child

Listen openly and calmly

Reassure the child

Write down the factsSlide13

Reporting

EVERYONE HAS A DUTY TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE

Contact local police or local child welfare agency

Reasonable grounds to suspect abuse is taking

plae

, report it immediately

Contacts

Family and Child Services of Waterloo Region 519-576-0540

Kid’s Help Phone – 1-800-668-6868Slide14

Facts

Child abuse usually reflects patterns of behaviour rather than an isolated incident

Many abusers are parents, relatives or trusted adults rather than strangers

Children rarely lie about abuse

Child abuse does NOT have class boundariesSlide15

Prevention

Attend workshops or programs on parenting

Act when you see mistreatment of a child

Read children stories that deal with the issue “Eagle Child” or “The Secret of the Silver Horse”

Talk to children about their bodies and explain what is appropriate/inappropriateSlide16

Child Abuse Survivors

Demonstrate

Poor mental health

Unhappiness

Poor physical health

Childhood physical and sexual abuse

Medical diseases

Weak relationships

Isolation/social disconnection

Behavioural health affects (suicidal behaviour, substance abuse, physical inactivity etc.)Slide17

Discipline

Some ways parents discipline children include:

Raising your voice

Grounding

Sending to room

Taking away privileges

Others??Slide18

How Would you Discipline THIS child?

Child calls you stupid?

Child refuses to do something like take a bath?

Child disobeys you and kicks your cat

Child interrupts while you are on the phone

Child won’t stay in bed during bedtime and keeps coming out of their room

Child calls their sibling a bad word

Child bites another child

Are there circumstances in which it is acceptable for parents to spank their children?Slide19

In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the law

outlined

in Section 43 of the Criminal Code that allows

parents

and caregivers to physically discipline (i.e. spank)

children

in their care using what they describe as “reasonable

force

”. “Reasonable”, according to the Supreme Court,

means

that it should not be used in anger, should not involve

any

objects, and should only be used on children under the

age

of twelve.

The

Supreme Court’s ruling disappoints many Canadians, as

they

believe that spanking or otherwise physically disciplining

a

child goes against their human rights. Several

psychological

studies conducted in the United States and

Canada

have determined that the use of physical punishment

on

children more often than not has lasting detrimental

effects

.

Despite

this information, many North Americans continue to

spank

their children at times, and are pleased that the

Supreme

Court did not repeal Section 43. Abolishing this law

would

mean that a parent or other caregiver found spanking

or

otherwise disciplining a child in their care would be eligible

to

face criminal charges. Although many parents do not

believe

in spanking or physically disciplining their children,

they

do not see it as criminal behaviourSlide20

Reflection

On a sheet of paper, please discuss the issue of spanking children from your perspective. You can use the following questions to guide your response. When you are done, please submit the reflection to Mrs. Stewart.

Do you believe in spanking?

If yes, under what circumstances do you think it should happen?

If no, what do you think the best method to dealing with discipline is?

Why do you think spanking is effective? Ineffective?

At what point do you think spanking is being taken “too far”?

Have you ever seen a child get spanked? How did you feel? If not – how do you think you would react?

Add in any more of your opinions

about spanking now