When you send your child to a daycare center, you want to be able to rely on his caregivers to keep him safe. You shouldn't spend too much time worrying about daycare providers. According to a study conducted at the University of New Hampshire's Family Research Laboratory, the amount of reported cases of sexual abuse on daycare centers was lower than reported cases of such abuse in the home. However, problems like neglect and sexual abuse still do happen. Look out for your child's safety by being cautious when picking a daycare center and by understanding the signs and symptoms of abuse.
Federal Definition of Child Abuse
Federal legislation sets minimum standards when it comes to defining child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA,) amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, sets the basic definition of child abuse and neglect as, "Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation," or, "An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm," to a child.
Definition of Abuse According to Individual States
Individual states can then adapt their laws as long as they fit the basic criteria. The State of Connecticut's Department of Children and Families defines daycare abuse as: making cruel or uncaring remarks to a child, abandoning or ignoring a child, using threat as a weapon to hurt a child, allowing a child to be surrounded by unsafe conditions, and denying a child the proper care and attention needed to supervise him.
Warning Signs
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children points out a series of potential indicators of child abuse. Parents should take note if their child: displays unexplained extreme mood or behavior shifts, displays sleep disturbances such as nightmares and fear of going to bed, shows an unusual interest in sexual matters or acts out inappropriately in a sexual manner, suddenly acts out feelings or displays aggressive behavior, regresses to infantile state or begins to cling, has unexplained problems in school, shows a change in toilet-training habits, or displays an excessive fear of going to day care. Physical symptoms include pain, bruising, bleeding, itching in or around the genitals, and multiple unexplained bruises elsewhere on the body.
Choosing a Responsible Daycare Center
To find a day care center that is most likely to keep your child safe, find a center willing to describe how it screens all of its employees. You don't want your child to end up at a facility that doesn't do background checks. Some potential caregivers---or even other facility employees such as janitors---could have criminal records or records of mental illness or substance abuse.
Helping Prevent Abuse
Since pre-verbal children won't be able to tell you what is wrong, you will need to rely on visual and behavioral cues to detect abuse. Children old enough to talk should be taught basic rules about interacting with other people. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, your child should be told: he has a right to say no when he is asked to do something he thinks is embarrassing, painful or wrong; no one should touch him in places that would be covered by a bathing suit and he shouldn't touch others in those places; he shouldn't be tricked by someone threatening or bribing him to keep a secret; he shouldn't stay alone with an adult in an isolated place like a bathroom or bedroom if it makes him feel uncomfortable.
