A Child's Courage To Survi

There are four ways of defining child abuse, there is neglect, psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. With any type of child abuse, it could leave a child traumatized. Child abuse happens all around the world to young children, but some are too scared to speak up. Some people may know what is happening, but feel that it’s none of their concern. Every ten seconds a report is made about child abuse. About four children die each year because of child abuse. Children need love and care and if parents aren’t willing to do so then they aren’t ready.

When thinking about child abuse most people may think of physical, but neglect is most common because parents don’t see it the right way. When parents are constantly unavailable for their children

During 2005, sixty-two point eight percent of victims experienced neglect, sixteen point six percent were physically abused, nine point three percent were sexually abused, seven point one percent were emotionally or psychologically maltreated, and two percent were medically neglected.4 Abandonment is also a form of neglect, because the parent isn’t there to care for his or her child. Despite the fact, neglect hasn’t received much attention than physical and sexual abuse. Neglect is often an act of being left out or excluded. In the book A Child Called “It” One Child’s Courage to Survive, Dave Pelzer talks about his experience with his Mother. He wouldn’t be fed because Mother “forgot” to fed his dinner, he would only be fed leftovers from his brothers. He had no choice, but to find a way to get

My stomach coiled with a combination of fear and anticipation. Anticipation because I knew that within seconds, I would have something to put in my stomach. Fear because I also knew that at any time, I could get caught stealing. I always stole food before school began, while my classmates were playing outside the building. The fight for food became a cycle.5

Children don’t understand why their parents behave like they do. In Dave’s case, his relationship with his Mother drastically changed from discipline to punishment that grew out of control. Children get confused and later get brainwashed by their parents believing it’s okay what their parents do to them. Other households know what might be going on but chose not to get involved or because they are brainwashed as well. The parent who performs the abuse may control the rest of his or her family leaving the child