Abuse in Child Daycare

Types of Abuse

• There are several different types of abuse that can occur in daycare, including physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. Injuries typically characterize physical abuse. Sexual abuse includes sexual acts, contact with genitals, fondling, indecent exposure and use of the child in sexual activities or crimes. Emotional abuse includes ridicule, terrorism, isolation and denial of interaction.

Prevalence of Abuse

• There has sometimes been much attention paid by the media in cases of daycare child abuse. Despite this negative press, child abuse in the daycare setting is not the most prevalent type of abuse. It accounts for less than 5 percent of the cases of child abuse. Most often, child abuse occurs by parents or relatives, and daycare workers report incidents to the authorities. Because of their close relationships with children, daycare workers often are the people in which children confide.

Behavioral Signs

• A child who is abused may exhibit some of the following behaviors:

  • Withdrawal
  • Complaining of pain
  • Strange explanations of complaints
  • Hesitation when faced with adult contact
  • Extreme increased need for affection
  • Inappropriate discussions about sex
  • Repetitive actions like sucking or biting or rocking
  • Mood extremes

Phyical Signs

• Look for the following physical signs because they could indicate possible abuse at daycare:

  • Stained or bloody undergarments
  • Issues in the genital area
  • Increased urinary or yeast infections
  • Unexplained injuries and swelling

Prevention

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most wtates and local governments require licensed daycare workers to have criminal background checks. These background checks help to lower the risk of abuse. In addition to these efforts, potential daycare providers also should be observed in a setting with children to find possible abusive traits like yelling, grabbing and lack of interaction. Finally, most daycare centers have made an effort to alter their design to ensure that the facility does not have blind spots where a caregiver and a child could interact in private.

  Parents should ask prospective daycare providers about the steps they take to screen employees. Proper screening should occur for all employees, and not just those who work in the classroom. These employees include janitorial staff, nutritional staff and administrative staff.