Top 4 Tips to Speak to Your Child About Abuse

1. Create a Safe Environment

When you’re ready to talk with your child about their experience at their daycare center, school, church, or other organization, creating a quiet space can make the conversation less overwhelming for both of you. Speaking softly, offering reassurance, or simply letting them know you’re there for them can help them to open up.

As a parent, you recognize the moments when your child feels safe, such as when it’s just the two of you together. You’re tucking your child into bed, riding home in the car after picking them up from school, or eating a snack at home together. These moments, when your child feels at ease and safe, would be the best times to start a conversation about suspected abuse.

2. Use Open-Ended Questions

Open-ended questions give your child the opportunity to speak freely and share details about their experience in their own words. This approach also helps prevent them from feeling uncomfortable. 

Prioritize listening over talking and let them share any detailed situations on their own. Some starting questions we recommend using include:

• Can you tell me about your day today?
• Did anything happen today that you would like to talk about?
• Where do you like to play? Is there anywhere you don’t like to play?
• Who was your teacher/caregiver today? How do you feel about them?

Questions that are suggestive or lead to specific answers can confuse your child and prevent them from sharing important details. Avoid asking:

• Did one of your teachers yell at you/hurt you/touch you?
• Is your teacher mean to you?
• Is there anything that made you feel sad or scared?
• Why didn’t you tell me something had happened?

3. Alleviate Their Anxiety

In cases of sexual abuse, it’s common for predators to verbally threaten a child to prevent them from telling their parents or other adults about their experience. That’s why when you speak to your child, it is important to let them know they are not in trouble. You can also let them know that anything that happened to them at a daycare center, school, church, camp, or any other place is not their fault, and you are very proud of them for sharing with you.

This reassurance throughout your conversation with your child can help alleviate their anxiety.

4. Manage Your Own Reactions

Children tend to be highly sensitive to their parents’ emotions and often mirror their parents’ behaviors, as reported in a medical study. Because of this, the way in which you respond to these difficult conversations can influence what your child shares with you and how safe they feel.

It’s completely understandable to feel angry, frustrated, and devastated if your child reveals they have experienced abuse at a daycare center, school, church, or camp. But it’s important to keep those emotions in check and directed away from your child. Try taking a deep and thoughtful breath and thinking before asking any additional questions. This can help you feel steady while supporting your child during the conversation.

Should I Report Suspected Child Abuse?

In Texas, there are mandatory steps to take after suspecting child abuse has occurred in a daycare center, school, church, camp, or other organization. The law requires anyone to make a report if they believe a child has been harmed. There are two ways to report suspected child abuse: calling the Texas Abuse Hotline (800-252-5400) or submitting a report through the Texas Abuse Hotline website.

You should call when the suspected abuse against your child involves a serious risk, including:

• A child 5 years old or younger
• A child needing immediate medical treatment
• Suffering severe injuries
• Suspected sexual abuse

Calling flags the report, and it is reviewed within 24 hours. Any other incidents can be reported through the online portal.

You should also contact Child Protective Services if the suspected abuser is a caregiver actively responsible for your child’s well-being at a daycare center, school, camp, or church.

Lastly, calling local law enforcement is also recommended. (They are responsible for criminal investigations, which focus on figuring out who committed a crime.) Law enforcement handles criminal investigations, while CPS handles investigations regarding a child’s safety and welfare.

How Can The Button Law Firm Help My Family After Suspected Abuse?

If you suspect that your child is a victim of abuse, you have the right to take legal action. We understand that it may be difficult to take this step while your child is recovering from any form of abuse, but it’s important not to wait too long. Time limits, or statutes of limitations, can expire, and critical evidence can disappear.

Under Texas law, blame for child abuse falls under damages, or the financial recovery awarded to the harmed child and their family. While no amount of money can erase the trauma of abuse inflicted on a child, a successful result in a lawsuit can help secure the critical resources that your child needs to help move them forward in recovery.

Damages can include:

• Anticipated future medical care costs, such as play therapy
• Loss of enjoyment of life, meaning your child’s abuse prevents them from participating in activities they loved
• Medical expenses (emergency room visits, hospital stays, or prescription medication)
• Your child’s pain and suffering, which includes sleep disturbances, emotional distress, or increased anxiety

Our experienced team of child injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is ready to listen to you and fight for the justice your child deserves. We work on contingency, meaning that we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. With offices in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we will explain the options available to your family. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at intake@buttonlawfirm.com, or fill out our online form for a free case evaluation.