Neglect and Lack of love
How
is neglect and lack of love under the same category, and what effects does it
have on children?
·
Neglect is when a
child is not provided with shelter, love, schooling, support, protection or
medical care that they need.
·
Child neglect is
just as serious as any other form of abuse; it is the most common
·
Neglect is when
the child’s needs are not met, in some cases it is lack of love
·
It is known that
children need to be loved in order to have a good life and future, as well as
not have any emotional or physical problems
·
Lack of love
tears families apart, without love the family slowly separates; while the child
eventually becomes less attached
·
When a child
experiences neglect it can lead to a delay in brain development
·
Sometimes neglect
only happens because of other problems with the family in the house hold. For
example; two fighting parents can lead to them neglecting their child/children
·
Neglect not only
happens to children, but can also happen to adults/parents; as their loved one
changes and avoids them
·
Characteristics of
neglecting caregivers
o
40% alcohol/drug abuse
o
24% mental health problems
o
32% lack of social support
o
31% childhood history of
abuse
o
17% spousal violence
·
Estimates show that in 2008 over
235,000 cases of child abuse or
neglect were investigated in Canada. About 40% of
these cases were confirmed.
·
Signs of neglect:
o
Inappropriate clothing for the weather
§ Children
do not get the supervision they need to help them prepare for school and get to
school regularly
o
Loss of weight/malnourished
o
Some who are neglected are able to
have access to drugs in the home, so may have related behavioural problems
o
Suffer long term emotional problems
§ Younger
children suffer more, by having physical and emotional problems.
§ Emotional-
inappropriate playing habits, mimicking pervious abuse, unstable intimate
relationships in the future
§ Physical-
Dirty and unsanitary, leading to health problems and possible diseases.
·
Health problems due to lack of medical
attention; injuries and illness
§ Poor
muscle tone, unhappy and minimal facial expressions
§ Children
who go through abuse as a child have a high risk to abuse their child when they
grow up as well
§ High
risks of being involved in criminal activity as they grow up if being neglected
when younger
§ If
neglected, they may not grow or develop properly
o
Whoever notices any type of abuse
towards a child should try and prevent it as soon as possible before it effects
them permanently
§ Get
them to a safe environment
§ Early
treatment gives them the best chance of not having physical or emotional
problems
§ Talk
to them about how they feel
§ Make
sure they are comfortable with the person they are with
o There are
many different types of neglect:
§ Physical
neglect refers to the failure to provide a child with basic supplies life such
as food and clothing;
§ Medical
neglect is when caregivers do not meet children’s basic health care needs
§ Emotional
neglect is failing to provide emotional support such as emotional protection
and support
§ Educational/
developmental neglect is the failure to provide a child with support for
growing up, and not sending a child to school or giving him or her education.
§ Leaving a
young child unsupervised may be considered neglect, especially if doing so
places the child in danger
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