Child Advocacy Center

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​​Recognizing Child Abuse

Children are more likely to be abused by someone they know and trust.

A perpetrator can be an adult or a child, a family member, childcare provider, friend, or neighbor. Child abuse can happen anywhere a child is at any time, and occurs in all age groups, races, socioeconomic backgrounds.

To understand what child abuse is, it is first helpful to understand what all children need.
What do all children need to be healthy and happy?

Children need consistent emotional care and supervision, as well as reassurance that they are safe, protected, and heard. Children require medical treatment if they are hurt, and need to be watched by someone who is looking out for their best interests.

Child abuse includes sexual, physical, and emotional abuse as well as child neglect. The different types of abuse have different definitions, signs and symptoms, and a child may experience multiple forms of abuse at once. The Kane County Child Advocacy Center investigates reported cases of child sexual abuse and severe child physical abuse cases in Kane County. 

To learn more about the different types of child abuse and neglect, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse in children, please view the information and information and the resources in the dropdowns below.

All information is credited to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA).

Child sexual abuse is any sexual activity with a child. This includes exhibitionism, voyeurism, exposing a child to or producing child pornography, fondling, incest, rape, as well as any sexual activity between children.  

Many children who have been sexually abused show no physical signs.

While there is often no physical signs, children will often show signs and symptoms of abuse through their behavior. Sudden and drastic behavioral changes and emotional regulation issues are key signs that a child has experienced abuse.

Physical signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse may include, but are not limited to:

  • Difficulty walking or sitting, or any other indications of an injury to the genital areas
  • Sexual knowledge or interest that is beyond what is normal for the child's age
  • Running away from home, or other attempts to escape a location or a person

Behavioral Signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse may include, but are not limited to:

  • Sudden and drastic changes in behavior or personality
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Often tired and uninterested in playing, or in activities they used to love
  • Withdrawing from family, friends, and activities
  • Acting out aggressively
  • Showing sudden fear of people, places, or activities
  • Problems at school
  • Acting young than their age (regressing), such as wetting the bed or sucking their thumb
  • Nightmares and sleep issues
  • Acting out sexually beyond what is normal for their age
  • Self-destructive behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, eating disorders, and self-harm

Sexually abusive physical contact with a child includes, but is not limited to:

  • Touching a child's genitals, private parts, or any part of the body for the sexual gratification of the perpetrator
  • Making a child touch or look at someone else's genitals
  • Playing sexual games or having sexual conversations with a child
  • Putting objects or body parts inside the vagina, anus, or the mouth of the child for sexual purposes

All information is credited to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA).

Physical child abuse is an intentional injury or inflicted harm to a child. This may include hitting, punching, beating, burning, biting, kicking, cutting, shaking, or any action that results in physical injury.

Signs and symptoms of physical child abuse may include, but are not limited to:

  • Unexplained and out of place injuries such as bruises, black eyes, or abrasions
  • Faded and healing injuries
  • Injuries which do not match the explanation given

Behavioral signs and symptoms of physical child abuse may include, but are not limited to:

  • Fear of adults or of a particular individual
  • Wearing long-sleeved or layered clothing when it is not appropriate to hide injuries
  • Aggressive or socially withdrawn behavior
  • Cannot recall how the injuries occurred or gives inconsistent explanations

All information is credited to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA).

Emotional Child Abuse is maltreatment of a child that may involve criticizing, insulting, yelling, swearing, manipulating, and rejecting or withholding love.

Signs and symptoms of emotional child abuse may include, but are not limited to:

  • Extreme or sudden changes in behavior, especially around certain adults
  • Delays in physical, emotional, or psychological development
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Attempted suicide
  • Lack of emotional attachment to the parent or guardian
  • Acting overly mature or immature for the child's age

All information is credited to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA).

Child neglect is a failure to provide a child with the basic emotional, medical, or educational needs. This includes, but is not limited to, food and water, adequate shelter, appropriate supervision, medical care, and being taken to school.

  • According to the Illinois Department of Family & Child Services (IDCFS), child neglect in Illinois is defined as the failure to meet “minimal parenting" standards for providing a child with adequate supervision, food, clothing, medical care, shelter, or basic needs.
  • Poverty is NOT the same thing as neglect

All information is credited to Prevent Child Abuse Illinois (PCA).​

Many of these child abuse signs and symptoms are also present in children who were exposed to violence, or other Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ​​ACEs alone do not prove that a child is being abused, but they can be a signal that the child needs help.

All child abuse and neglect are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which have complex and varied psychological effects on a child's developing brain. ACEs also include witnessing or violence or experiencing the traumatic death of a family member.

ACEs have been shown to lead to higher chances of substance abuse, mental health problems, and instability. After experiencing trauma, the body and the brain do everything to survive and get back to “normal" life. Care must be taken to address the initial traumatic event, acknowledge any shame or fear, and reduce the chances of future victimization.

Please watch the video below to learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences, and the effects on a child's developing brain.​

​​This video is credited to the CDC, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services