Child abuse - Separate myths from facts

Child abuse or neglect leaves a lasting scar on the child. Whether it is physical, emotional or sexual, the harm caused has long-term effects on the abused child.

Due to our socialisation and some cultures, there are certain behaviours that we do not know constitute child abuse.

 In order to understand the reality of child abuse, let’s look at some misconceptions about child abuse:

Myth: It’s only abuse if it’s violent.
Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage, and since they are not always as obvious, others are less likely to intervene.

Myth: Physical discipline is not child abuse
Fact: Children can be disciplined to behave in a more acceptable way. Physical discipline will become physical abuse if it causes harm or injury to a child. There are many ways to discipline children without using force.

Myth: Only bad people abuse their children.
Fact: Not all abusive parents or guardians intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and do not know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems.

Myth: Abuse does not happen in “good” families.
Fact: Abuse and neglect does not only happen in poor families or bad neighbourhoods. These behaviours cross all ethnic, race, economic and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.

Myth: Most child abusers are strangers.
Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family.

Myth: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.
Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents.

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Myth: Only young children are abused
Fact: Child abuse can happen to babies, children or teenagers. It may seem that teenagers should be able to fight back, but it is hard to stand up to an adult who is causing the abuse, especially a parent. Child abuse is often an abuse of power and trust. Cruel words or sexual or physical abuse hurts teenagers as much as it hurts a child.

Myth: Children make up stories about abuse
Fact: A child rarely lies about abuse. A child may change what they have said if they have been pressured or threatened to deny what has happened, or they are afraid of being removed from their family after they have told someone about it.

Myth: Sometimes children are to blame for their abuse
Fact: A child is never to blame for abuse. Adults are responsible for their own behaviour and no matter how a child behaves, adults have no right to harm a child.

Child abuse or neglect leaves a lasting scar on the child. Whether it is physical, emotional or sexual, the harm caused has long-term effects on the abused child.

Due to our socialisation and some cultures, there are certain behaviours that we do not know constitute child abuse.
 In order to understand the reality of child abuse, let’s look at some misconceptions about child abuse:

Myth: It’s only abuse if it’s violent.
Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage, and since they are not always as obvious, others are less likely to intervene.

Myth: Physical discipline is not child abuse
Fact: Children can be disciplined to behave in a more acceptable way. Physical discipline will become physical abuse if it causes harm or injury to a child. There are many ways to discipline children without using force.

Myth: Only bad people abuse their children.
Fact: Not all abusive parents or guardians intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and do not know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems.

Myth: Abuse does not happen in “good” families.
Fact: Abuse and neglect does not only happen in poor families or bad neighbourhoods. These behaviours cross all ethnic, race, economic and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.

Myth: Most child abusers are strangers.
Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family.

Myth: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.
Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents.

Myth: Only young children are abused
Fact: Child abuse can happen to babies, children or teenagers. It may seem that teenagers should be able to fight back, but it is hard to stand up to an adult who is causing the abuse, especially a parent. Child abuse is often an abuse of power and trust. Cruel words or sexual or physical abuse hurts teenagers as much as it hurts a child.

Myth: Children make up stories about abuse
Fact: A child rarely lies about abuse. A child may change what they have said if they have been pressured or threatened to deny what has happened, or they are afraid of being removed from their family after they have told someone about it.

Myth: Sometimes children are to blame for their abuse
Fact: A child is never to blame for abuse. Adults are responsible for their own behaviour and no matter how a child behaves, adults have no right to harm a child.

Child abuse or neglect leaves a lasting scar on the child. Whether it is physical, emotional or sexual, the harm caused has long-term effects on the abused child.

Due to our socialisation and some cultures, there are certain behaviours that we do not know constitute child abuse.
 In order to understand the reality of child abuse, let’s look at some misconceptions about child abuse:

Myth: It’s only abuse if it’s violent.
Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse can inflict just as much damage, and since they are not always as obvious, others are less likely to intervene.

Myth: Physical discipline is not child abuse
Fact: Children can be disciplined to behave in a more acceptable way. Physical discipline will become physical abuse if it causes harm or injury to a child. There are many ways to discipline children without using force.

Myth: Only bad people abuse their children.
Fact: Not all abusive parents or guardians intentionally harm their children. Many have been victims of abuse themselves and do not know any other way to parent. Others may be struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse problems.

Myth: Abuse does not happen in “good” families.
Fact: Abuse and neglect does not only happen in poor families or bad neighbourhoods. These behaviours cross all ethnic, race, economic and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors.

Myth: Most child abusers are strangers.
Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or others close to the family.

Myth: Abused children always grow up to be abusers.
Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children against what they went through and become excellent parents.

Myth: Only young children are abused
Fact: Child abuse can happen to babies, children or teenagers. It may seem that teenagers should be able to fight back, but it is hard to stand up to an adult who is causing the abuse, especially a parent. Child abuse is often an abuse of power and trust. Cruel words or sexual or physical abuse hurts teenagers as much as it hurts a child.

Myth: Children make up stories about abuse
Fact: A child rarely lies about abuse. A child may change what they have said if they have been pressured or threatened to deny what has happened, or they are afraid of being removed from their family after they have told someone about it.

Myth: Sometimes children are to blame for their abuse
Fact: A child is never to blame for abuse. Adults are responsible for their own behaviour and no matter how a child behaves, adults have no right to harm a child.