Introduction

Child abuse of any form is wrong. The meaning of child abuse is the mistreatment of a child by a parent or guardian, including neglect, beating, and sexual abuse. This means that physically abusing a child is not the only way to be abusive. That's where many people confuse things. If you are not feeding a child, or leaving them alone, that is also child abuse. Physical abuse is when there is hitting involved or physical hurting a child. Emotional abuse is making a child less than they are. For example telling a child they are not good enough is a form of emotional abuse. Sexual abuse is touching or asking to be touched in inappropriate places such as genitals or the vagina. And lastly neglect is basically leaving a child with no food, clothes, or shelter for days at a time. Any type of abuse is wrong, and there is no excuse for it.