What should you do if you suspect
that a child has been abused? How do you approach him or her? Or what if a
child comes to you? It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed and confused in
this situation. Child abuse is a difficult subject that can be hard to accept
and even harder to talk about.
Just remember, you can make a
tremendous difference in the life of an abused child, especially if you take
steps to stop the abuse early. When talking with an abused child, the best
thing you can provide is calm reassurance and unconditional support. Let your
actions speak for you if you’re having trouble finding the words. Remember that
talking about the abuse may be very difficult for the child. It’s your job to
reassure the child and provide whatever help you can.
Tips for
talking to an abused child
- Avoid denial and remain calm:
A common reaction to news as unpleasant
and shocking as child abuse is denial. However, if you display denial to a
child, or show shock or disgust at what they are saying, the child may be
afraid to continue and will shut down. As hard as it may be, remain as
calm and reassuring as you can.
- Don’t interrogate: Let the child explain to
you in his or her own words what happened, but don’t interrogate the child
or ask leading questions. This may confuse and fluster the child and make
it harder for them to continue their story.
- Reassure the child that they did nothing wrong: It
takes a lot for a child to come forward about abuse. Reassure him or her
that you take what is said seriously, and that it is not the child’s
fault.
- Safety comes first: If you feel that your safety or the
safety of the child would be threatened if you try to intervene, leave it
to the professionals. You may be able to provide more support later after
the initial professional intervention.
