Every day, nearly four children die in the U.S. as a result of child abuse and neglect and over 27,000 children are exposed to domestic violence.
Protecting kids requires us all to work together. Please read the signs of child abuse, below, and pledge to take action to keep kids' lives free from violence.
I pledge to:
1) Call the police (911) immediately if I suspect that a child is in immediate danger.
2) Learn and watch out for the 10 common signs of child abuse:
* Unexplained injuries. Visible signs of physical abuse may include unexplained burns or bruises.
* Changes in behavior. Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn or more aggressive.
* Returning to earlier behaviors. Abused children may display behaviors shown at earlier ages, such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, fear of the dark or strangers.
* Fear of going home. Abused children may express apprehension or anxiety about leaving school or about going places with the person who is abusing them. view whole pledge
I pledge to:
1) Call the police (911) immediately if I suspect that a child is in immediate danger.
2) Learn and watch out for the 10 common signs of child abuse:
* Unexplained injuries. Visible signs of physical abuse may include unexplained burns or bruises.
* Changes in behavior. Abused children often appear scared, anxious, depressed, withdrawn or more aggressive.
* Returning to earlier behaviors. Abused children may display behaviors shown at earlier ages, such as thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, fear of the dark or strangers.
* Fear of going home. Abused children may express apprehension or anxiety about leaving school or about going places with the person who is abusing them.
* Changes in eating. The stress, fear and anxiety caused by abuse can lead to changes in a child's eating behaviors, which may result in weight gain or weight loss.
* Changes in sleeping. Abused children may have frequent nightmares or have difficulty falling asleep, and as a result may appear tired or fatigued.
* 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.
* Lack of personal care or hygiene. Abused and neglected children may appear uncared for.
* Risk-taking behaviors. Young people who are being abused may engage in high-risk activities such as using drugs or alcohol or carrying a weapon.
* Inappropriate sexual behaviors. Children who have been sexually abused may exhibit overly sexualized behavior or use explicit sexual language.
Some signs that a child is experiencing violence or abuse are more obvious than others. Trust your instincts. Suspected abuse is enough of a reason to contact the authorities. You do not need proof.
3) Share the signs of child abuse in order to build a community protecting children. view less
Sign Pledge
50
50
log in or sign up to start earning Butterfly Credits today!
8:06 pm PST, Nov 17,Renee Fuller, Florida
no child deserves to be abused.
# 22,079:
5:38 pm PST, Nov 17,Betty Miliano, Maine
I will be more observant of the children in my community.
# 22,078:
10:06 am PST, Nov 15,Angelina Crowley, New York
# 22,077:
9:31 am PST, Nov 13,Kate Sadler, Ohio
Do whatever I can to help that child, even if I am unsure about whether abuse is happening or not.
# 22,076:
12:29 am PST, Nov 9,Ashley Schultz, California
# 22,075:
3:06 pm PST, Nov 2,Tony Rosas, Illinois
# 22,074:
11:53 am PDT, Oct 31,Lillian Murphy, Hawaii
As a substitute teacher, watch & talk to the children:report concerns.
# 22,073:
9:23 am PDT, Oct 31,Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 22,072:
9:32 pm PDT, Oct 27,Jaime Evenstad, California
# 22,071:
2:46 pm PDT, Oct 26,Linda Freeman, New Hampshire
# 22,070:
12:04 pm PDT, Oct 25,Monica Sanchez, California
# 22,069:
9:45 am PDT, Oct 25,Name not displayed, New York
# 22,068:
7:39 am PDT, Oct 24,Name not displayed, Arizona
Report abuse when seen.
# 22,067:
10:34 pm PDT, Oct 23,Name not displayed, Illinois
# 22,066:
9:20 pm PDT, Oct 23,Christina Anderson, Canada
# 22,065:
7:16 am PDT, Oct 22,Kim Byrne, Wisconsin
I pledge to report any abuse to the police to let them handle the situation as no child should have to go through any kind of abuse including neglect.
# 22,064:
3:50 am PDT, Oct 21,Name not displayed, Maryland
I was abused as a child and believe me it never goes away.
# 22,063:
2:36 pm PDT, Oct 20,Name not displayed, California
# 22,062:
8:40 am PDT, Oct 20,Name not displayed, Ohio
# 22,061:
2:16 am PDT, Oct 20,Julie Dunn LSW, Ohio
# 22,060:
11:45 pm PDT, Oct 19,Philip Kuon, California
# 22,059:
6:28 pm PDT, Oct 19,Ellen Judith Tabachnick, California
continually be continally aware and be prepared for intervention.Have been trained.
I am not willing to simply call Child Protective Services unless a clear and present danger exists. Nor am I a mandated reported. Am involved by getting barent and child/children into shelter and taking legal steps to ensure safety means just that. Thanks for all you do,
# 22,058:
11:31 am PDT, Oct 19,Name not displayed, Connecticut
Be an advocate and assist any child that may be in danger.
# 22,057:
6:28 pm PDT, Oct 18,Ashley Fredrick, Wisconsin
# 22,056:
8:33 am PDT, Oct 13,Sara Gaspar, Portugal
# 22,055:
2:23 am PDT, Oct 13,Shannon Maynard, Oregon
# 22,054:
2:18 pm PDT, Oct 12,Adriana Paverman, New York
# 22,053:
12:17 pm PDT, Oct 12,Thomas Crahan, New York
# 22,052:
8:28 am PDT, Oct 12,Dorothy Compton, Missouri
Report to authorities suspected cases. Children are our this country's future and deserve protection, especially when they are not protected by their caregivers.
view whole pledge