Child Neglect

Child Neglect by Javier Ortiz

Being a parent and taking care of a child is a full time job, but not everyone takes it so serious and makes their innocent child go through something called Child Neglect. Child neglect is defined as “a type of maltreatment that refers to the failure by the caregiver to provide needed, age-appropriate care although financially able to do so or offered financial or other means to do so.” Child neglect is not only wrong it is also illegal in 49 out of the 50 states in the U.S. (excluding Maryland). Child neglect is a very serious offence all around the world, but people need to be good parents because you have to remember children can’t choose what family they are born into.

There are different types of neglects ranging from physical, educational, emotional /psychological, and medical neglect. Emotional/psychological neglect is what this essay will focus on. Emotional/Psychological neglect includes actions such as engaging in chronic or extreme spousal abuse in the child’s presence, allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, refusing or failing to provide needed psychological care, constantly belittling the child and withholding affection. “Parents” who treat their child in this manner should not be considered parents, but criminals for endangering their Childs life without care.

Parental behaviors considered to be emotional child maltreatment include that following:

· Ignoring (consistent failure to respond to the child’s needs such as care, love)

· Rejecting (actively refusing to respond to the child’s needs such as affection)

· Verbally assaulting (name calling or threatening the child)

· Isolating (not allowing communication with other people)

· Terrorizing (threatening the child with extreme punishment)

· Corrupting or exploiting (encouraging the child to engage in destructive, illegal/bad behavior)

As one can see there are many ways to make an innocent child suffer emotional neglect, so even if you think you are being a good parent you could actually be causing your child a lot of emotional damage.

If you suspect that a child is suffering from neglect there is ways you can help them. The first thing you should do is report it to the local child protective services agency (often referred to or called social services) in your country or state. People who work with children such as at a day care or a school are required by law to report reasonable suspicion of abuse and or neglect. All people need is “Reasonable Suspicion” based on objective evidence, which could be firsthand observation or statements made by a parent or fellow child is all that is needed to report a child neglect case.

Just because someone has a child it does not mean they are prepared or suitable to take care of a child. A child is an innocent human being who does not deserve to be neglected by their parents because even though they are being neglected and ignored by their parents the sad truth is that they still love them. Child neglect no matter what kind is illegal and punishable by law in all U.S states excluding Maryland, it is a very serious offence and should be reported as soon as possible.

Sources

American Humane Association: http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-neglect.html

Omg Facts: http://www.omg-facts.com/view/OMG/25811

Help Guide.org: http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm