In the case of signs of sexual abuse, there are often no traces or witnesses, and there is seldom any evidence of the crime, so parents find it very hard to protect their children.
It is advisable to trust your child if they confess to you that someone has touched him or acted inappropriately toward him.
Regarding child abuse, only 2% to 8% of children lie. However, if they did not tell you, there are other signs of sexual abuse you can look out for. In this article, I mentioned six warning signs of sexual abuse in children. But before we get into that, let’s briefly define “What Sexual Abuse means.”
What does Sexual Abuse mean?
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation.
This abuse takes many forms, including asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities, showing pornography to a child, physical contact like touching or rubbing and using a child to produce pornography.
Child sexual abuse happens when there is sexual activity with or without the permission of that child. It is important to remember that The child can permit because of the child’s ignorance (he is unaware of the sexual implications that this activity entails), because he feels forced to (the person is a relative, friend, or partner with whom they have a relationship of authority or trust), or because he is receiving payment.
Child sexual abuse is never the fault of the victim. It is always the responsibility of the abuser. It is regarded as sexual assault by everyone if:
- There has been either physical or emotional violence.
- There have been many timely acts.
- Takes place outside or inside the family.
Behavioral and Situational Signs of Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse can currently take many forms, but the victim frequently recognizes it as normal and innocent and refuses to seek assistance. Thus, it is critical to emphasize what sexual abuse is. Types of child sexual abuse behaviors include;
– Physical touch (caresses, touching, rubbing, masturbation, oral, anal, or vaginal penetration).
– Sexual contact (observing someone naked while displaying or touching their genitals or having sexual intercourse, either live or through movies or photographs or even creating pornographic materials).
– Making sexually explicit contact or remarks, whether in-person, online, or mobile. You can categorize them in this way into many groups. Obscene phone calls are on one side. Sexually explicit conversations or emails that contain private sexual details and are supported by an adult should also be taken into account.
– Making contact with a minor while posing as another juvenile or someone else to engage in sexual activity (known as grooming ). In this regard, children and adults do not learn about identity theft until much later.
– Disseminating sexually explicit images or recordings of oneself or others (known as sexting). Young people typically have a lot of confusion about the latter, believing that certain behaviors in the pictures are not sexual just because they do not appear nude, and even sending them to others, making those people participants in the abuse.
To be able to intervene and report child abuse or bring it to the authorities’ attention if necessary, it is just as important to be aware of the behaviors that constitute abuse as it is to be mindful of the signs of sexual abuse. However, how can you do this if you are unaware of the warning signs?
Warning Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
Here are some warning signs of sexual abuse that you should look out for in children who have been sexually abused.
1. Sexual Knowledge, Behavior, Drawings, and Language that does not correspond to the child’s age
You must find out more about the topic if your child talks about sexual things in detail, acts sexually toward his toys, or sexually addresses other people.
2. Changes in Attitude and Conduct
If your child is distant and unwilling to be touched, fidgety, agitated, anxious, depressed, or sobs excessively. Also, even childhood traits that some children have already outgrown, such as bedwetting or immature attitudes, can occasionally recur in them.
3. Sleep Issues
Children who experience sexual abuse frequently have trouble sleeping or experience frequent nightmares, which makes them very weary.
4. Hygiene Changes
Children who have experienced abuse start to have poor or excessive cleanliness. This occurs due to the stress or shame they participate in these situations. For example, some children don’t want you to see them naked because they are embarrassed or wish to keep you from noticing their wounds or bruises.
5. Changes in Feeding
Some children switch their diets, much like they do with hygiene. For instance, some people choose not to eat because of the stressful circumstances they are going through.
6. Poor Academic Achievement
Another common sign of sexual abuse is poor academic performance. Concentration skills will deteriorate, resulting in grades declining and a loss of enthusiasm for their studies.
Conclusion
Child abuse is a serious and sensitive topic that should not be treated lightly. The first thing that parents need to do when they suspect their child has been sexually abused is to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
A doctor can then provide treatment and prescribe medication if necessary. The second thing to do is contact the authorities to report the crime. Then, the child who has been abused will also be able to file a complaint.
Lastly, take the child to a psychologist. Such a Child needs help from a counselor or child psychologist.
With the warning signs of sexual abuse mentioned above, it will be easy to detect sexual activity among children and take precautions immediately.