Ways To Prevent Child Abuse

Whenever the term, ‘child abuse’ arrives, the one thing that comes to everyone’s mind is sexual abuse. However, child abuse is not just sexual abuse, it also includes misleading a child in a physical and mental way. 

Sadly, child abuse starts at home, where children ought to live with all the freedom they have when they were born. Parents from various cultures and habits try to influence their children and want them to be the way they decide to be. Hence, childhood maltreatment begins. 

Remember! Every individual is unique!

You can teach your child whatever you want them to know, but that doesn’t mean they should follow your path as it is. 

Let us discuss how to prevent child abusing by knowing the protective factors of child maltreatment.

What is the most common abuse?

The most common child abuse starts from the parents. Parents often tend to yell or beat their children if they disobey. This may deceive and the child will hide their mistakes from them instead of not doing one. They won’t become a child who obeys the elder’s words, instead, they pretend to be one. There are many ways to guide a child instead of just yelling and beating. Most parents ignore finding ways and love being strict. It is better to know the strategies to treat childhood maltreatment and find out ways to prevent it.

How to prevent child abusing?

Child abuse is not just physical. Both words and actions can have a long-lasting effect on their hearts. Most parents want to be kind to their children but at the end of the day, some fail because they couldn’t find any way to treat them gently instead of yelling. Do you want to know the answer to ‘What are the strategies for preventing abuse?’ If yes, then here are the steps that act as primary prevention of child maltreatment.

• Discipline your kids thoughtfully

Discipline can’t be attained in a single day. It should be a process. To groom your child into a disciplined one, first, be patient and trust the process. Encourage good behavior with the help of appreciating the small things he/she has done. It will help the child understand that it is a good thing and the child will unknowingly do it more in the future. Never try to discipline your child when you are upset. This will trigger your anger if the child doesn’t listen.

• Be a nurturing parent

Turn your orders into humble requests. Always be a nurturing parent. This way you can show your child and other adults in the family that even big conflicts can be resolved without yelling or hitting.

• Teach them what abuse is

Child maltreatment constitutes both physical and mental abuse. Most of the time physical abuse happens when the child doesn’t know how to react and instead prefers to stay calm, as we always teach them to do so. Spend some time and talk effectively with your child while going out. Teach them how to react when someone is trying to mislead them. Inform your child that staying safe is their own right in this universe. 

Ask them not to fall for emotional traps, this is where the mental abuse starts. Do not reject or isolate or ignore a child for their mistakes. Embrace them and it will help them become good human beings.

• Don’t ignore the signals

Sometimes, the most naughty child will suddenly become calm or there might be certain small changes in their behavior. As a parent, do not ignore these alarming signals. Try to notice what is happening and ask them, if you feel your child is under trouble or stress. Start with a polite tone and make them understand that you are there for them whatever the situation is. If you can gain that trust, then obviously your children will tell everything which is bothering them. This way you can support your child and prevent child maltreatment.

Bottom line

Children are like tender sapling that grows either with a bunch of flowers or with pests on them. It is in the gardener’s hands to nurture it according to the plant’s requirements. You should not pour more water or insufficient water, as both will affect the plant. Likewise, don’t offer more advice and at the same time don’t ignore things. Always guide them as and when they need, and make them understand that they are the right decision makers. If you inculcate that in a child’s mind, then he/she will be able to face any difficulties even when you are absent from their lives.