Physical child abuse is a dilemma that many people face. However, where does one draw a line between disciplining a child and child abuse? There is no doubt that children deserve the love of their parents and elders, but there are times when the frustrations and stresses of life are taken out on the first person near by, and most often than not it is a child...the one person who would find it extremely difficult to fight back!

Child abuse has been proven to be one of the leading causes of childhood deaths in many countries around the world. According to recent studies a child is abused every 4 seconds and every 7 minutes a child's life is lost.

For the children suffering at the hands of an abuser violence simply becomes a way of life. The abused children then grow up thinking and believing that hurting people is a normal part of everyday life and; therefore, it is an acceptable behavior. The reprehensible cycle of abuse continues as they become parents and abuse their children, and in turn their children abuse theirs and so on..This vicious cycle thus continues for many generations. Surely this is not unanticipated, is it? After all we know children learn by examples. In case anyone needs reminding, here's something that perhaps should be displayed as a reminder for every household who has young children or for those people who deal with children on a daily basis:

"Children Learn What They Live"

• If a Child lives with Criticism, He learns to Condemn.
• If a Child lives with Praise, He learns to Appreciate.
• If a Child lives with hostility, He learns to fight.
• If a Child lives with tolerance, He learns to be Patient.
• If a Child lives with ridicule, He learns to be Shy.
• If a Child lives with encouragement, He learns Confidence.
• If a Child lives with shame, He learns to feel Guilty.
• If a Child lives with approval, He learns to like Himself.
• If a Child lives with fairness, He learns Justice.
• If a Child lives with security, He learns to have Faith.
• If a Child lives with Acceptance & Friendship, He learns to find love in the World. I had mentioned earlier that there is a fine line between discipline and abuse and all too often the line is crossed and in many cases it is never realized until it is too late. Over the years we have learned that a very large number of abuse and neglect cases are never reported; therefore, they are allowed to continue indefinitely sometimes ending up with tragic results. We all know that abuse can and does happen to children of any age, sex, race, religion, and socioeconomic background. Abuse knows no boundaries or borders it can happen in a family, which you least expect it to be take place.
  
  "CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT" The Public Law 100-294, USA
  This act defines child abuse and neglect as being any physical or mental injury, act of sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of any child under the age of 18. This includes abuse, by a person, that could be any employee of a residential facility or any staff person providing out-of- home care, who is responsible for the child's welfare under circumstances, which indicate that the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby.
  
  1984 Child Abuse Amendments of (P.L. 98-457) USA
  As a result of the above amendment to the Child Abuse Act, the act now also includes the withholding of medically indicated treatment for an infant's life-threatening conditions as child abuse. Since I am discussing only physical abuse today, I would like to categorize the points of physical maltreatment...how would one recognize that a child is being maltreated? The following categories basically fit under the broad heading of maltreatment:
  
  PHYSICAL ABUSE
  Physical abuse is defined by inflicting any type of physical injury by punching, slapping, hitting, beating, kicking, biting, arm-twisting, hair pulling, burning, or otherwise harming a child. The parent or caregiver may not have intended to hurt the child and injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child's age. However, it is still abuse. Any physical act, causing harm to a child is abuse whether it was intended or not.
  
  CHILD NEGLECT
  Child neglect is defined by failure on the parents or care givers part to provide for the child's basic needs, food, water, shelter, clothing and so on. Child neglect can be a combination of the following: physical, educational, or emotional or can be just one type alone. According to the latest international incidence studies, child neglect has been further categorized into the following:
  
  Physical Neglect
  Physical neglect includes refusal of or delay in seeking health care or emergency medical services. Abandoning a child, kicking an under aged child out of the home, or worse - not allowing a runaway to return home. Inadequate supervision, leaving a small child unattended for long periods of time, and leaving an under aged child home alone to be responsible for younger siblings.
  
  Educational Neglect
  Educational neglect includes allowing your school-aged child to commit the act of chronic truancy, failure to enroll a child of mandatory school age, (every child has the right to education) and inattention to a special educational need, for example knowing your child is in need of special education classes (e.g. if the child is dyslexic etc.) and doing nothing about it.
  
  Emotional Neglect
  Emotional neglect includes such actions as chronic or extreme spouse abuse in the child's presence. Knowledge of (or granting permission for) drug or alcohol use by the child. Refusal of or failure to allow or provide needed psychological care.
  
  EMOTIONAL ABUSE
  Emotional abuse includes but is not limited to: Screaming, yelling, belittling, name calling, emotional detachment, lack of love and affection, scapegoating, such as blaming the child for the adults problems or financial state.
  
  As you've read here, there are many forms of child maltreatment and more often than not we find them occurring in combinations. Emotional/psychological abuse will most likely always be present as well. Emotional abuse and neglect includes acts or omissions by the parents, guardians or any other person responsible for the child's care that have caused, or could possibly cause, serious behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders.
  
  In some cases of emotional/psychological abuse the behavior of parents or other caretakers indicate there is nothing wrong, however, the child's behavior or condition indicates that something is quite not right. This is because some parents, guardians or caregivers use excessive, extreme even sometimes bizarre forms of punishment, such as torture, or locking a child in a dark closet. The abusing adults themselves think nothing of it, as they think they are disciplining the child. The child, though frightened and subdued (or in some cases total rebels) think that because they were "bad", they were punished and many think this how all their peers get their punishments when they do something wrong! It becomes way of life for them.
  
  However, even one episode of such punishments can emotionally or physically scar a child for life. I know this firsthand because my Kindergarten teacher used to lock me in a dark closet when I was naughty, and since then I am afraid of dark places.
  
  If you or any member of your family are being abused or know of someone who is being abused you MUST take it seriously and REPORT IT. Physical child abuse is a devastating problem that more often then not goes unreported because people don't want to get involved.
  
  As teachers, childcare workers, principals, doctors, parents or any other professionals it is your duty to report suspected abuse or neglect. As a friend, neighbor or even a relative it is also your duty if you suspect someone is being abused to call.
  
  Help make the world a better place and teach our children to smile!