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Bigs Play an Important Role in Child Abuse Prevention

March 26, 2021, Lori Dossett

Bigs have the opportunity to positively impact and even change their Littles’ lives for the better. Establishing a relationship with your Little takes time and effort as you enjoy different activities together, whether it’s playing sports or games, doing arts and crafts, or going to a movie. With this growing relationship always comes a level of trust. Your Little will look up to you for advice, discuss their personal struggles, and may even disclose sensitive information about their personal lives. 

In an effort to protect the safety and well-being of your Little, it’s important to stay informed on the dangers many vulnerable children face, including child abuse. Situations involving child abuse and neglect often go unreported, and many children grow up before they are able to admit they were abused or even acknowledge that abuse occurred. Knowing the signs of child abuse and when to speak up are important first steps in supporting your Little and other children in your life who may be vulnerable to abuse. As a Big, you are a mandated reporter who must make a report if you have reason to believe that abuse or neglect of a child has occurred. Watch the video below to learn more.

Mandated Reporting from BBBS Twin Cities on Vimeo.

Different Forms of Child Abuse 

Child abuse is an unthinkable act that takes many forms and can be inflicted by anyone in a child’s life. The most common types of child abuse include neglect, sexual abuse or molestation, grooming, emotional abuse, physical abuse, bullying, and cyberbullying. These abuse areas are defined below:

Child neglect: When a child is not provided with adequate care, supervision, affection, and support needed by the child with little to no regard for their health, safety, and well-being. 

Sexual abuse: When an adult or another child in a position of power engages in sexual activity with a minor. Sexual abuse encompasses exposing a minor to pornography, inappropriate touching or groping of a minor, and exposing oneself to a minor. 

Grooming: When an adult builds trust and an emotional connection with a young person with the intention of sexually abusing them. This trust allows an abuser to manipulate the victim into taking part in sexual acts.

Emotional abuse: When an individual harms a child’s mental and social development or causes severe emotional harm. This form of abuse includes belittling, shaming, and humiliating the child, calling them names, and limited physical touch or signs of affection. 

Physical abuse: Involves physical harm or injury to the child. The physical abuse may be the deliberate attempt to injure the child or rationalized as a physical punishment in order to discipline the child. 

Bullying: The repeated, targeted, aggressive behavior typically inflicted by a child’s peers. Bullies often use force, threats, teasing, and/or embarrassment to hurt children who are younger and smaller, or are seen as weak in the eyes of the bully. 

Cyberbullying: Defined similarly to bullying, except it takes place online or on digital devices. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing harmful or embarrassing information or images to exclude and shame the victim.

Recognizing Child Abuse

Specific signs and symptoms of child abuse are entirely dependent on the type of abuse inflicted, and how the child grapples with the trauma they endured. It may take a long time for the child to come to terms with the abuse, but in the meantime, there are different behaviors to look out for that could indicate abuse was committed. 

Child neglect: Poor personal hygiene, being underweight or overweight for their age, lacking adequate clothing to meet their physical needs, hiding food, poor performance or attendance in school. Remember, the presence of poverty alone does not mean a child is unsafe, unloved, or that a parent lacks the capacity to care for them. Poverty can, however, make it more challenging for parents to meet their children’s needs. If you believe your Little’s family is in need of additional resources, please contact your Match Engagement Coordinator.

Sexual abuse: Sexual behavior or knowledge that is inappropriate for the child’s age, contracting sexually transmitted infections, inappropriate sexual contact with other children, statements that they were abused. 

Grooming: Discussing an adult or another child who pays specific attention to them, offers them gifts, communicates with the child online, or frequently touches or hugs the child.

Emotional abuse: Loss of self-confidence, low self-esteem, socially withdrawn, loss of interest or enthusiasm, depression. 

Physical abuse: Unexplained injuries, like bruises, burns, or fractures; injuries that don’t match the explanation. 

Bullying: Unexplained injuries; lost or destroyed clothing, electronics, and other items; frequent stomach or body aches; change in eating habits and sleeping schedule, low self-esteem; self-destructive behaviors like running away or harming themselves. 

Cyberbullying: Withdrawn, depressed, avoidance of social situations, obsessiveness with or avoidance of the internet, their cellphones, and social media platforms, and other behaviors similar to bullying. 

Prevention Strategies

The last thing a Big wants is for their Little to struggle in silence. Open communication is vital when developing and maintaining a trusting relationship with your Little. If your Little is showing signs that they’re struggling, or symptoms of potential child abuse, it’s important to bring your concerns up in a way that makes them feel comfortable. Your Little may be afraid to broach certain topics for fear of being ashamed or embarrassed. Creating an open dialogue free of judgment ensures that your Little feels safe and secure discussing these important issues, especially if they are or someone they know is a victim of abuse. 

If something traumatic did happen to your Little, the best thing you can do is believe them. This will not only help build trust in your relationship, but it is one more step toward stopping the abuse from occurring and getting the child the help and support they need. 

Additional Resources

The Mayo Clinic

Childhelp.org

AbuseLawsuit.com

HelpGuide

StopBullying.gov

Understood.org