I’m sure we all know the meaning of discipline. Discipline, as in being “The self-control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed.” But what if I told you discipline can turn into extreme acts of violence, like a child being hit, punched, or beaten by their parents? According to the World Health Organization, in the past year, up to one billion children worldwide under the age of five suffered from physical and emotional abuse. Children are among the most vulnerable members in our society, yet millions of children endure abuse daily.
But why? How? Both physical and emotional child abuse are forms of child maltreatment that involve the harming of a child by a parent, caregiver, or other person in a custodial role. Children’s physical/emotional abuse can cause lasting damage to the child’s health, emotional well-being, and mental growth. According to the World Health Organization, “Six in ten children under five, approximately 400 million globally, regularly suffer physical punishment or psychological violence at the hands of caregivers.” These astonishing events highlight the widespread abuse across continents, cultures, and even in our own communities. Following this information, according to the National Child Stress Network, “In 2015, it was reported in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico that an estimated 683,000 children were victims of child abuse or neglect, and 1,670 children died as a result.” In some schools, more than fifty percent of third graders have experienced an investigation for maltreatment. Every number stands for a child whose life has been changed or cut short, showing the critical need for swift action, care, and protective measures.
To confront this crisis, we must move beyond awareness and into action. Parents who are experiencing anger issues and taking it out on their children should seek counseling first. According to the organization Talk to Angel, “Seeking therapy in person can sometimes be difficult for children living in abusive homes. The stigma surrounding therapy, combined with the potential danger of an abusive parent finding out, can create significant barriers.” To continue this, from Mary Bridge Children’s, “I tell parents the same thing that I tell the front-line providers in our behavioral health unit — you can’t take care of the children if you aren’t taking care of yourself,” says Dr. Bhutia. Daily self-care is not a mandatory need for drastic schedule changes; rather, it could take just a daily dose of 15 minutes to go on a walk alone or invest in self-care activities for your child. Kids should also feel empowered by their teachers or guidance counselors to seek out help at school when things are going badly at home. Schools should have a more open-door policy for students who are being abused.
Abuse can be physical or emotional, but both actions and words can inflict deep, lasting wounds. For children who are raised in abusive households, counseling is not a luxury—it is a necessity. Counseling helps children process their experiences, heal their emotional wounds, and regain their sense of self-worth. Also, be a nurturing parent. Use your actions to show your children that conflicts can be resolved without the use of violence. In general, ending both physical and emotional abuse is not just a distant dream; it’s a collective responsibility. As President Bill Clinton once said, “every child is entitled to live his or her life to its fullest, free from fear and want”.
