What is abuse
Child abuse is a term we might use to describe when someone harms you or another child. This can involve hurting you physically, sexually, emotionally, or neglecting you. This includes people actively doing something which causes you harm, but can also include when people don’t do things to keep you safe.
Abuse can be carried out by anyone, including: Parents and other people within your family; Friends and other young people; Professionals who should be helping; People in the community; People online.
Categories of Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Abuse is when a child or young person is made, pressured, tricked, or forced to take part in sexual activities. Sometimes they may not understand that what is happening is wrong or abusive. They might feel scared, confused, worried about getting into trouble, or think they have to keep it a secret. Some children may even act as though it is normal because they do not know anything different.
Sexual abuse can involve physical contact, such as someone touching a child’s body in a sexual way, making them touch someone else, or forcing them to take part in sexual activities.
Sexual abuse can also happen without any physical contact. This might include someone showing a child sexual images or videos, exposing themselves, sending sexual messages, talking to a child in a sexual way online, or asking them to share images, videos, or information they are not comfortable with.
It is never a child’s fault if they are sexually abused. Everyone has the right to feel safe, and if something makes a child feel uncomfortable, worried, or unsafe, they should talk to a trusted adult who can help.
If you, or someone you know, has concerns of child sexual abuse there are places and people who can help. The Centre for Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse have an easy to use online finder tool –
Click here to identify sexual abuse support services in your area.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. Sometimes people call it psychological abuse. It is often a part of other kinds of abuse, which means it can be difficult to spot the signs or tell the difference, though it can also happen on its own.
It can involve deliberately trying to scare, humiliate, isolate or ignore a child; humiliating or constantly criticising a child; threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names; making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child; blaming and scapegoating; making a child perform degrading acts; not recognising a child’s own individuality or trying to control their lives; pushing a child too hard or not recognising their limitations; exposing a child to upsetting events or situations, like domestic abuse or drug taking; failing to promote a child’s social development; not allowing them to have friends; persistently ignoring them; being absent; manipulating a child; never saying anything kind, expressing positive feelings or congratulating a child on successes; never showing any emotions in interactions with a child, also known as emotional neglect.
Neglect
Neglect is the continuous failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It is the most common form of child abuse. Children who suffer neglect can experience increased risk and danger, as well as it having a long term impact on their physical and mental health.
Physical neglect might involve not meeting a child’s basic needs, such as food, clothing or shelter, or not supervising them appropriately or keeping them safe. Educational neglect describes when a parent doesn’t ensure their child is given an education.
Emotional neglect is defined as when a child doesn’t get the nurture and stimulation they need. For example they are ignored, humiliated, intimidated or isolated.
Medical neglect applies to situations when a child isn’t given proper health care, for example access to a dentist or doctor and refusing or ignoring medical recommendations.
Physical Abuse
Physical Abuse is when someone hurts or harms a child or young person on purpose. This can include: hitting with hands or objects; slapping and punching; kicking; shaking; throwing; poisoning; burning and scalding; biting and scratching; breaking bones; drowning.
Other Types of Harm
Child Exploitation is a form of abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person into sexual, criminal or other harmful activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants, and/or for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Learn more about exploitation from Barnardo's.
Gangs, Knife Crime and Violence
Children and young people involved with gangs and criminal exploitation need help and support. They might be victims of violence or pressured into doing things like stealing or carrying drugs or weapons. They might be abused, exploited and put into dangerous and violent situations. The NSPCC has advice about what to do if a child is being groomed to join or has already joined a gang.
Domestic abuse is any type of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people 16 years and older who are, or who have been in a relationship, regardless of gender or sexuality. It can also happen between adults who are related to one another. Domestic abuse always has an impact on children. Being exposed to domestic abuse in childhood is child abuse. Children and young people may experience domestic abuse both directly and indirectly. The NSCPCC has lots of useful information for young people affected by domestic abuse.
Peer-on-peer child abuse is a term used to describe children abusing other children. Peer-on-peer child abuse can include: bullying (including online bullying and bullying because of someone's race, religion, sexuality, disability or trans status) abuse by your girlfriend, boyfriend or partner. The National Bullying Helpline provides further information for young people who are being bullied.