Emotional
What is emotional abuse?
“Emotional abuse” is a pattern of behavior by an
adult that can damage the self-esteem of a child.
What is physical abuse?
“Physical abuse” happens when an adult injures,
or threatens to injure, a child or youth. It can take
the form of hitting, beating, burning, or shaking.
Give a defnition of
neglect.
“Neglect” is when a parent or caregiver does not
meet the basic needs of a child or youth.
What stops people
from reporting child
abuse when they see it
happening or when they
suspect it is happening?
People may avoid reporting child abuse because:
• They are afraid to break up a family.
• They are unsure it if is abuse, and they do
not want to make a false report.
• They do not know whom to report to.
• They are afraid the person will fnd out they
made the report.
• They know the person doing the abuse and
do not want them to get in trouble.
List the ways an adult
could emotionally abuse a
child or youth. Give two or
more examples.
Emotional abuse includes the following
behaviours:
• constantly criticizing;
• insulting;
• ridiculing;
• ignoring;
• threatening;
• rejecting;
• exploiting; and
• withholding love and support.
What is the diference
between normal bruising
on a child and suspicious
bruising from physical
abuse? Give two or more
examples.
Normal bruising happens on the hard parts of
a child that stick out: the elbows, knees, and
forehead. These bruises happen from normal
activities like playing and falling.
Suspicious bruising happens on a child’s soft
parts: the stomach, back, face, arms, and legs.
Adults physically abuse youth in places that can be
covered by clothing to hide the marks.
What is the diference
between poverty and
neglect?
“Neglect” is when a parent or caregiver does not
meet the basic needs of a child or youth. This
can happen when parents / caregivers “choose”
not to meet those needs, or when they are trying
to provide for their children but are unable to do
so. This can result from insufficient resources; for
example, poverty, no access to adequate housing,
or other challenges. Many families that experience
poverty are still able to meet the basic needs of
children and youth.
Whom do people report
child abuse to when
they see or suspect it is
happening?
All adults have a duty to report if they know or
suspect a child is being abused. They do not
need to have proof. To report abuse, you would
call Child Protective Services (the name may vary
by province / territory). Child Protective Services
is the agency that helps children and youth who
are being abused. It is there to protect youth from
harm.
Youth can call Child Protective Services if they are
experiencing abuse or to report that someone else
is experiencing abuse. If a young person is not
comfortable calling, they can have an adult call for
them.
The police are also an option, especially if the child
or youth is in immediate danger.
Give three or more
examples of how
emotional abuse would
make a child feel or act.
Emotional abuse leads to many feelings and
behaviours, including:
• sadness;
• depression;
• anxiety;
• feeling worthless and unloved;
• loneliness;
• low self-esteem;
• helplessness;
• inability to trust others;
• confusion;
• thoughts of suicide;
• eating disorders;
• trouble sleeping;
• withdrawal from friends and activities;
• substance abuse;
• self-harm;
• dropping out of school;
• failure in school; and
• poor peer relationships.
What is the diference
between “abuse” and
“discipline”? Give three or
more examples.
Discipline:
• is used by parents to correct a specifc
misbehaviour: a child knows that if they
fail to meet expectations, they will be
corrected;
• is intended to educate the child;
• is a situation in which the parent / caregiver
maintains their self-control;
• does not involve the use of objects like
belts, sticks, or bats;
• does not leave bruises, cuts, or scratches;
and
• is a tool to help children learn.
Abuse:
• is often unpredictable, and children may not
know what will cause it to happen;
• is intended to instill fear;
• is a situation in which the parent / caregiver
loses their self-control;
• can involve emotional abuse and can
make a child or youth feel humiliated or
degraded;
• can involve physical abuse and leave a
child or youth with cuts, bruises, or broken
bones; and
• is done out of anger or frustration.
List three or more basic
needs that children and
youth need to live.
Basic needs of children and youth include:
• food;
• clothing;
• shelter;
• education;
• exercise;
• fresh air;
• medical and dental care;
• hygiene;
• sleep;
• discipline;
• supervision;
• stimulation;
• interaction;
• safety; and
• love.
How would you help
a friend who told you
they were experiencing
emotional abuse, physical
abuse, or neglect? Give
two or more examples.
Youth often reach out for help from their peers
before they talk to an adult. You can:
• Listen: be calm and let them talk. Listen
without judgment.
• Talk in a calm and caring voice, and let
them know it took a lot of courage for them
to tell. Tell them you believe them.
• Link: Let them know there are people who
can help. Encourage them to talk to a
trusted adult, or ofer to go with them to talk
to someone who can help.
• Live: Keep checking in with them. Do
things with them that will help them cope in
healthy ways: hang out; go for walks; play a
sport; go to the mall; go hunting; play video
games; bead; or carve.
• Make sure you take care of yourself and
talk to friends or family about your feelings.
What unhealthy ideas
do children mistakenly
learn from witnessing
family violence, which
is any form of abuse,
mistreatment, or neglect
that a child or adult
experiences from a family
member? Give four
examples.
Unhealthy ideas that children and youth
mistakenly learn from witnessing family violence
include:
• that violence has a place in the family;
• that violence is normal and acceptable;
• that it is okay to hit someone who may be
smaller and less powerful;
• that there are few, if any, consequences for
violence; and
• that violence is an acceptable way to
handle anger and stress.
What would cause you to
suspect someone is being
physically abused? Give
four examples.
The following may indicate that someone is being
physically abused:
• bruises of diferent colours and shapes on
their back, stomach, neck, face, under their
arms, or on the backs of their legs;
• broken bones;
• wearing long sleeves and pants all the time
to hide bruises;
• getting angry if you ask them where they
got the bruises;
• giving an explanation for the bruises that
does not make much sense;
• getting angry at others easily and lashing
out physically;
• harming others;
• self-harming; or
• substance abuse.
What are some indicators
that may cause you to
suspect someone is being
neglected? Give four
examples.
A person who is being neglected may be:
• always hungry;
• stealing food;
• always tired;
• wearing clothes that often do not ft;
• dirty and have body odour;
• dressed inappropriately for the weather;
• sick often;
• sufering from toothaches; or
• over- or underweight.
Name three places you
could go if you were
experiencing abuse and
were feeling unsafe at
home.
You could consider going to:
• a friend’s house;
• a relative’s house;
• an elder’s house;
• a school;
• the youth centre;
• the mall;
• a park;
• a walk on the land;
• a community centre;
• a youth shelter; or
• a cadet / JCR training activity.