9 Signs of Child Abuse and Neglect

First published April 2017
Updated May 2026

Child abuse and neglect are common. Every year, Child Abuse Prevention Month is observed in April to raise awareness and honor the important role that everyone can play in strengthening families and supporting children. Protecting children from abuse and neglect is a community responsibility. Most adults want to help but may be unsure about how to get involved. Remember to follow the three Rs – Recognize, Respond and Refer.

Recognize the Warning Signs

Signs of child abuse or neglect include:

1. Unexplained injuries—Abused children may have unexplained burns or bruises in the shape of objects. You may also hear unconvincing explanations of a child’s injuries.
2. Fear of going home—Abused children may express fear or anxiety about leaving school or going places with the person who is abusing them.
3. Lack of personal care or hygiene—Abused and neglected children may appear uncared for. They may be consistently dirty and have severe body odor, or they may lack sufficient clothing for the weather.
4. Changes in behavior—Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn or more aggressive.
5. Risk-taking behaviors—Abused children may engage in high-risk activities such as using drugs or alcohol or carrying a weapon.
6. Sudden change in behavior—Abused children may cry excessively, skip school or run away. They might display behaviors shown at earlier ages, such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting or fear of the dark or strangers. For some, loss of memory or language may be an issue.
7. Changes in eating or sleeping—Stress, fear and anxiety caused by abuse can lead to changes in eating behaviors, which may result in weight gain or weight loss. Abused children may have frequent nightmares or difficulty falling asleep and may appear tired or fatigued.
8. Changes in school performance and attendance—Abused children may have difficulty concentrating in school or have excessive absences, sometimes due to adults trying to hide the children’s injuries from authorities.
9. Inappropriate sexual behaviors—Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit overly sexualized behavior or use explicit sexual language.

Respond Appropriately

It is important to respond appropriately to a disclosure or suspicion of abuse. Try to keep your words and body language as calm and neutral as possible. Children may feel confused, scared, sad or angry. Be supportive and non-judgmental. You can let them know that you may need to talk to someone whose job it is to keep them safe.

Don’t wait to make a call. In case of an emergency, or if a child indicates that they are afraid to return home, you should call local law enforcement immediately, or 911.

Refer to Community Resources

Contact your local child protective services agency to make a report. This is determined by the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred. If an incident has happened within the last 96 hours (4 days), an immediate medical assessment may be necessary. For a directory of child protective services agencies, click here.

You should try to include the following information, although it is not required:

• The name, address and age of the child you suspect is being abused or neglected
• The name and address of the parent(s) or guardian
• The name of the person you suspect is abusing or neglecting the child and the address, if available
• The reason you suspect the child is being abused or neglected
• Any other information that may be helpful to the investigation

The Center for Family Safety and Healing addresses all aspects of family violence, including child abuse and neglect, teen dating abuse, domestic violence and elder abuse. To learn more about services or make an appointment, please call 614-722-8200.