{"id":7358,"date":"2024-07-18T14:55:21","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T13:55:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/?p=7358"},"modified":"2024-07-18T14:55:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T13:55:29","slug":"disclosure-child-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.highspeedtraining.co.uk\/hub\/disclosure-child-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Why Children May Stay Quiet About Abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We all have a responsibility to safeguard children and young people, regardless of our age, profession or background, but those who work in educational settings and who have regular contact with children have a particularly important role to play. In this article, we\u2019ll look at why children may stay quiet about abuse they\u2019re experiencing, why they may not tell you what\u2019s happening and what you can do if you suspect that a child in your care is being abused. Speaking out isn\u2019t easy for anyone, especially children, which is why it\u2019s vital you give them a voice and speak out for them.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"child_abuse_disclosure\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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What is Child Abuse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Child abuse is any type of maltreatment towards a child, whether the harm is caused by an adult or by another child. For some children, the abuse they experience is a one-off action. For others, child abuse can be prolonged harm that happens over the course of months or even years of their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are four main categories of child abuse: emotional<\/a>, physical, sexual<\/a> and neglect<\/a>, but there are also many other types of maltreatment within these groups. Abuse can happen in-person or online, at any time, anywhere and to anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The signs of abuse<\/a> vary depending on the type of abuse and the particular child – some children may display obvious signs, such as bruising in the case of physical abuse, whereas others will be more subtle, such as behavioural changes as a result of emotional abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to note that children are skilled at hiding the abuse they\u2019re experiencing and are unlikely to tell you anything about it. Therefore, it\u2019s vital that you know how to recognise the warning signs so you can report it for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Some Children Not Report Abuse?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons why children don\u2019t report abuse, despite you being a friendly face who is willing and able to help them. Even if you make yourself as open as possible and encourage children to speak about their feelings, the abused child may still choose to keep their experiences of abuse hidden from you. This could be for a variety of reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child may not understand what\u2019s happening to them<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is especially true for younger children, children with disabilities or children with learning difficulties<\/a>, who may not recognise what\u2019s happening to them as abuse. Furthermore, if the child is being abused by someone that they know, trust and love \u2013 such as a friend or family member \u2013 then they may believe that the abuse is normal and not see it as being wrong. This is particularly true if the abuse has been going on since they were very young so, to the child, it\u2019s just a normal part of their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child may feel guilty or to blame for the abuse<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Some children may blame themselves for what\u2019s going on and may feel as if the abuse is their fault – a punishment for something – so they don\u2019t want to \u2018own up\u2019 to it in case they get into further trouble. The child may believe that they\u2019ve done something to deserve the abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child feels ashamed or embarrassed<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many children and young people will feel embarrassed about what\u2019s happening to them, so don\u2019t speak out because of the shame. This is often because they feel partly to blame for what\u2019s going on, so they don\u2019t want to admit to it and find it easier to just keep quiet in order to prevent further humiliation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child worries that you won\u2019t believe them<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It takes a lot of courage for a child to approach an adult and disclose information about abuse, so it\u2019s understandable that they may choose not to say anything just in case the adult doesn\u2019t believe them, laughs at them or dismisses them. It could also be the case that the child has tried to tell someone before but they\u2019ve had a poor response or no action was taken by the adult to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may not have the ability to speak out<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Young children, those who have a disability or learning difficulty or children who have English as a second language simply may not have the words to describe what is happening to them. Children with additional communication needs<\/a> like these will struggle to name their feelings or describe their experiences, so don\u2019t say anything at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child thinks they\u2019ve got no one to tell or has never been asked<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, it may be that the child is simply waiting for someone to notice that something isn\u2019t right. The child may not have the courage or opportunity to speak out and may be hoping that a trusted adult will approach them and ask what\u2019s wrong. In other cases, it might be that the child believes they don\u2019t know a trusted adult who they can talk to – which is why it\u2019s so important that you proactively fill this role and let all children know you\u2019re there to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child may be afraid of the consequences of speaking up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Children often hold back from telling someone about abuse because they\u2019re scared of what might happen next – they may worry about getting into trouble, may be worried about how you\u2019ll react or may fear the abuse getting worse. The child is also likely to be frightened of what will happen if their abuser finds out they\u2019ve told someone. Fear is a significant reason why children don\u2019t report abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The child may be hoping that the abuse will stop<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A child may refrain from speaking out about the abuse they are suffering because they believe that the situation is only temporary and that it will soon stop. Any child of any age and in any situation can believe this, but it\u2019s especially common amongst older children who believe they are in a loving relationship with their abuser. As a responsible adult, it\u2019s a good idea to educate children about healthy relationships<\/a> to prevent situations like these from arising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Expert<\/div>

Looking to Learn More?<\/h3><\/div><\/div>

Do you work in education or a setting where children and young people are present? Then take a look at our full range of Safeguarding Children Courses<\/a> and see how you can improve your knowledge further. We all have a responsibility to safeguard children.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What to Do if a Child is Being Abused<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have concerns, worries, suspicions or evidence that a child is being abused, no matter how minor, it\u2019s vital that you act straight away. Don\u2019t wait until you\u2019re certain about abuse or until a child has disclosed something to you, as this could be too late – act now.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are various ways you can report and record a concern about child abuse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n