Childhood Should Not Hurt
By Lindsey Saldanha
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, a child has just been abused. Take the time to think about that, in the time it takes to fill up your morning cup of coffee, or spread butter over your toast, a child is being neglected or abused physically, sexually, or emotionally. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), child abuse is any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child ("Injury Prevention & Control: Violence Prevention", 2009). Child abuse prevails in our society today because of an extreme lack of awareness and action on part of adults. This lack of awareness and action leads to the destruction of the life of an innocent helpless child.
In one day, 8,640 children are abused. It is estimated that one in eight U.S. children experience some form of child abuse ("Tennyson Center for Children"). Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of four. Short-term physical injuries include cuts, bruises, burns, and broken bones. Abuse can also lead to permanent disabilities including visual, motor and cognitive impairments. Abuse is more than just physical harm to a child. Abuse and neglect can have a lasting emotional impact as well. They may be distrustful of others, and have difficulty establishing healthy relationships with others. Some may even think about or attempt suicide. Abuse and neglect can lead to core feelings of being "stupid" or “worthless”, children may have trouble regulating emotions, and they often feel unsafe, uncared for, and alone. It can also lead to damaging relationships because when the child grows into and adult they do not know what a good relationship is. Many parents have been victims of abuse themselves and do not know any other way to parent. About thirty percent of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the vicious cycle of abuse. About eighty percent of twenty-one year olds that were abused as children met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder, such as depression and severe anxiety (“Prevent Child Maltreatment”, CDC., 2011).
All this could be prevented if more adults knew the signs of child abuse and neglect and took the initiative to report suspected child abuse. The United States government needs to create legislation that will make it a criminal offense to not report suspected child abuse or neglect, and create mandatory programs that provide information on child abuse and how to act upon recognizing the signs for people who come in constant contact with children, such as educators and other caregivers, such as daycare centers, and nanny services. But this task and burden should not be solely placed on educators and caregivers. Adults everywhere should make it their priority to educate themselves about neglect and child abuse, and always be vigilant for suspected abuse. Children should not have to live in fear. It is our job to make sure they do not.
Imagine a world in which children did not have to endure needless suffering. That world can exist, and it starts with everyday people advocating awareness and action. People like you and I asking our representatives to create and pass legislation that makes it a crime to ignore the signs of abuse and neglect and carelessly let that child continue to suffer, as well as making it mandatory for educators and caregivers to attend programs that provide information on recognizing abuse and neglect and how to take action. So as you pour your morning coffee tomorrow, remember those children all over the country who need your help. Together, we can end child abuse.
References
United States of America. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 06 May 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/childmaltreatment/definitions.html>.
"Abuse Statistics." Tennyson Center for Children. N.p., 2010. Web. 6 May 2011.
<http://www.childabuse.org/Page.aspx?pid=232>.
United States of America. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 06 May 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HealthyChildren/>.
Every Child Matters Education Fund (2009). We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in the
U.S.< http://www.everychildmatters.org/storage/documents/pdf/reports/wcdbv2.pdf>
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children & Families. Child
Maltreatment 2009 <http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm09/cm09.pdf#page=31.>
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