- Be ready in an emergency. We've all witnessed the screaming-child-in-the-supermarket scenario. If we are parents, at least once that screaming child has been ours. Most parents take the typical tantrum in stride. But what if you witness a scene - in the supermarket or anywhere else - where you believe a child is being, or is about to be, physically or verbally abused? Responding in these circumstances technically moves beyond prevention to intervention, and intervention is best handled by professionals. Still, if you find yourself in a situation where you believe a child is being or will be abused at that moment, there are steps you can take. Prevent Child Abuse America suggests the following:
- Talk to the adult to get their attention away from the child. Be friendly.
- Say something like, "Children can really wear you out, can't they?" or "My child has done the same thing."
- Ask if you can help in any way - could you carry some packages? Play with an older child so the baby can be fed or changed? Call someone on your cell phone?
- If you see a child alone in a public place - for example, unattended in a grocery cart - stay with the child until the parent returns.
Finally - and most important if you are a parent - remember that prevention, like most positive things, begins at home. Take time to re-evaluate your
parenting skills. Be honest with yourself - are you yelling at your children a lot or hitting them? Do you enjoy being a parent at least most of the time? If you could benefit from some help with parenting, seek it - getting help when you need it is an essential part of being a good parent. Talk to a professional that you trust; take a parenting class; read a book about child development. Contact the resources below to locate places that parents can get help.
Child Abuse Resources
- Parents Anonymous, Inc. - Parents Anonymous encourages all parents to ask for help early to effectively break the cycle of abuse. Parents Anonymous groups meet in local community centers, churches, schools, housing projects, shelters, and prisons. Parents Anonymous also operates local 24-hour hotlines.
- Prevent Child Abuse America - Prevent Child Abuse America promotes healthy parenting and community involvement as effective strategies for preventing all forms of child abuse. The organization's nationwide network of chapters and local affiliates work to implement direct service programs in hundreds of communities.
- Child Abuse - Learn to recognize the signs of child abuse and what to do if you suspect that a child is being physically, emotionally or sexually abused.
adapted from the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information
