The 10 Signs of Child Abuse You Need to Know
August 11, 2025
By Adam Varahachaikol,
National Children’s Alliance
Every kid deserves to have a happy and healthy childhood where they thrive and not be burdened by the trauma from abuse. It’s a horrific experience that steals innocence and can have potentially lasting effects.
An estimated 558,899 children were reported to have been abused and neglected in the United States alone in 2022, which is the most recent year that there is national data from the Administration for Children and Families Child Maltreatment Report. That’s not even counting the abuse that goes unreported. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least one in four girls, and one in 20 boys in the U.S. are estimated to experience child sexual abuse.
Think about how child abuse can affect kids’ sense of safety and trust in their relationships and the world, in general. They can experience mental health issues like depression, anxiety and other trauma symptoms. To cope, they could do things such as abuse substances, take part in risky sexual behaviors, or get violent with themself or others. That’s why one of the most important things you can do for a child you love and care for is to look out for signs of child abuse and get them the help they need to go back to being a kid.
10 Signs of Child Abuse You Need to Look Out For
Read the signs below, watch this video, and share with your network to raise their awareness of how to keep kids safe.
#1: Unexplained Injuries
While Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) may serve more victims of child sexual abuse than they do victims of child physical abuse, federal data shows that physical abuse is considerably more common.
Be aware of some of the visual signs of an injury that a child received that they didn’t get from playing at the park, sports, or even just running around at home and accidentally bumping into a corner of a table.
For example, is the child favoring a particular part of their body more than normal? Do you see patterned or clustered bruises that came from something like a handprint? Burns, such as from a cigarette, or multiple burn marks could indicate potential signs of abuse.
Learn more in our guide for Children’s Advocacy Centers, Child Physical Abuse: A Guide to the CAC Response
#2: Changes in Behavior
If you’ve established a great relationship with a kid, you know how they usually present themselves, but be on the lookout for any changes in their personality. Was the child generally happy, and now they consistently seem more sad or apathetic?
In the past, I helped lead a Sunday School class of 3-5-year olds at a church, and one 4-year old boy in particular seemed to want to spend more time with me, and we established a rapport. He was generally a talkative, happy kid. However, on one Sunday, he came into my classroom dejected, sitting in the corner by himself wanting to be alone. When other kids would try to interact with him, he would lash out at them.
I then sat with him and took the time to ask how he was doing, and he eventually told me he was being abused and neglected at home. He also said that no one loves or cares about him, and that he wanted to die. I thanked him for disclosing what happened, assured him that we do love and care for him, and I immediately reported this to the church administration and we all worked together to get him and his family the help they needed at our local CAC, and now he’s thriving years later.
#3 Returning to Earlier Behaviors
This means an older child performs actions they did when they were younger as a coping mechanism for the trauma they may have previously experienced. Do they suck their thumb, or are they more attached to a stuffed animal or plushie?
Years ago, I previously worked for a government program that helps older youth from lower-income families with education and vocational training to improve their lives and be self-sufficient. I remember witnessing a teenaged student who called home to tell her parent how excited she was for receiving her GED before 18, and the parent proceeded to berate her for thinking she was better than them. After she got off the phone, she cried and then sucked her thumb to cope with what happened.
#4: Fear of Going Home
Home is supposed to be a safe space for children, but if they are afraid to go home, it’s a cause for concern to make a report. While it may not mean they, for certain, have been abused, the trusted adult should definitely talk to the child about what changed and why they want to avoid going home.
#5: Changes in Eating
Watch the child’s eating habits. Are they recently not eating when they have a normal appetite. Or vice-versa, are they suddenly eating a lot consistently? This is another possible method of coping with trauma.
#6: Changes in Sleeping
It’s a given that kids need sleep for crucial physical and mental development, but how is the child in your life sleeping? Do they not get any sleep at all? Maybe all they want to do is sleep. In either direction, that could indicate the child is stressed, anxious or depressed about something they experienced, such as abuse.
#7: Changes in School Performance and Attendance
Simply put, their grades are dropping, or they just don’t want to even go to school. Maybe it’s because they’re dealing with trauma, and their focus is not on education.
#8: Lack of Personal Care or Hygiene
I am the father of an amazing young child, and he’s at the age where all he wants to do is play, and yes, there are days where he’ll argue with me and his mom about showering and grooming himself. However, in the case of another child who may have been abused, their lack of personal care or hygiene can be tied to stress, depression, or anxiety.
#9 Risk-taking Behaviors
This goes beyond taking your bicycle or BMX dirt bike off of “sweet jumps,” or swinging off of a tire swing into the river. This means seeing kids take up smoking or drinking alcohol, as a few examples.
#10: Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
Looking at Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior (YPSB) is more than kids playing doctor or showing curiosity about private parts. PSB involves sexual body parts and is outside of typical development. Check out healthychildren.org’s article on Sexual Behaviors in Young Children: What’s Normal, What’s Not? for a comprehensive list of inappropriate sexual behaviors.
What to Do if You Suspect Abuse
If a child has disclosed abuse to you, the most important thing you can do for a child is to remain calm, tell them they are believed, and you’re going to work to get them help. It is important to note that while a child may have exhibited one or multiple signs of abuse, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have experienced trauma. However, even if you suspect child abuse, contact your local Children’s Advocacy Center who can walk you through what happens next. Go to nationalchildrensalliance.org to find your local CAC.
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Adam Varahachaikol is a content creator with 20 years experience in copywriting, editing, video production, and digital marketing across multiple industries, and is passionate about the CAC movement. He enjoys spending time with his family, drawing, music, gaming, and coaching youth sports.
