Child neglect is the most common form of child abuse and occurs when a caretaker fails to provide for a child's basic needs. It can negatively impact a child's development physically, mentally, and emotionally. There are different types of neglect including physical, medical, emotional, and educational. Signs of neglect include behavioral and emotional issues. Neglected children are more likely to experience mental health problems and relationship difficulties later in life. Nearly 700,000 children are abused annually in the US and neglect is the most common form, affecting about 1 in 10 children. Therapy and prevention programs aim to help neglected children.

1. Neglect
Jessica Schleif

2. What is Child Neglect?
– It is the leading form of child abuse in the
United States and occurs when a caretaker fails
to provide for a child’s basic needs, which
includes adequate food, clothing, shelter,
education, supervision, medical care, or
safekeeping. As a result of such treatment, the
child’s physical, mental, or emotional
development can be impaired.

3. Types of Neglect
– Physical – failure to provide necessary food or shelter, or lack of appropriate
supervision.
– Medical – failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment.
– Emotional – inattention to a child’s emotional needs, failure to provide
psychological care, or permitting the child to use alcohol or other drugs.
– Educational – failure to educate a child or attend to special education needs.

4. Symptoms and Signs of Neglect
 Wets the bed
 Soils clothes
 Takes risks
 Misses school
 Changes in eating habits
 Obsessive behavior
 Nightmares
 Drugs
 Alcohol
 Self-harm
 Thoughts about suicide
 Withdrawn
 Suddenly behaves
differently
 Anxious
 Clingy
 Depressed
 Aggressive
 Problems sleeping
 Eating disorders

5. Effects and Impact of Neglect
– May find it difficult to maintain healthy relationships with other people later in
life, including their on children.
– More likely to experience mental health problems including depression and post-
traumatic stress disorder.
– Can change how their brain develops emotional and verbal pathways.

6. Myths About Neglect
– Myth: Abused children hate their parents and want to get away from them
- Reality: Most children who have been abused by their parents still have a strong attachment or
love for their parents and want to remain living with them. What they really want is for the abuse to
stop.
– Myth: Children usually tell someone that they are being abused
- Reality: Different studies have shown that 46% and 69% of adults abused as children never
disclosed it in their childhood. Abusers can be very effective in making children too fearful to talk
about what is going on. Often children do not have the words to use to let someone know what is
happening to them. We are more likely to identify children who are being abused through physical
signs or their behavior.
– Myth: It is only abuse if it is violent
- Reality: Child abuse does not necessarily involve violence or anger. Abuse often involves adults
exploiting their power over children, and using children as objects for their own gratification rather
than respecting their needs and rights as children. Child abuse is defined as "...the harming (whether
physically, emotionally, sexually), ill treatment, abuse, neglect or deprivation of any child or young
person".

7. Statistics About Neglect:
– Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the United States
annually.
– The youngest children were most vulnerable to
maltreatment.
– Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment.
– About 4 out of 5 abusers are the victims’ parents.
– 1 in 10 children have experienced neglect.

8. Preventing Child Neglect &
Treatments
– Maintain the student’s normal status within the class. Do not treat them differently from the rest of the class
or do their behavior and performance.
– Respect and maintain the student’s privacy. A major fear of abused student sis that their abuse will become
common knowledge within the school.
– Develop a sense of belonging in the classroom where students can feel included and accepted.
– Look for opportunities to incorporate specific self-esteem activities and positive learning strategies within
your daily program.
– Give students information or feedback about themselves to assist their positive development of their identity.
– Respect students’ personal space. Show you care by refraining from touching.
– Model an appropriate child/adult relationship by establishing sound adult/child behavioral boundaries and
adhering to them consistently.
– Therapy

9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF3j5UVCSCA
For a bit more information on Neglect,
please watch this 6 minute video.

10. Sources:
– http://www.childmatters.org.nz/58/learn-about-child-abuse/myths-and-realities
– https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/whatiscan.pdf#page=2&view=HowIsChildAbuseand
NeglectDefinedinFederalLaw
– http://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/learn/child-abuse-neglect/about-
issue?gclid=CjwKEAjwvMnJBRCO2NSu-Puc6AUSJAAf-OSUU4lTdGIH-
aIBvpBxmEhHRhcL0WuV5JsQN4vc7NHlLRoCg67w_wcB
– http://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/media-room/media-kit/national-statistics-child-abuse
– https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/neglect/child-neglect-
facts-statistics/
– https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/neglect/signs-symptoms-
effects-neglect/
– http://www.secasa.com.au/pages/helping-the-abused-student-in-the-classroom/