Child abuse is hurting or not caring for a child. It can be physical - hurting the child's body. It can be emotional - criticizing how a child thinks or feels.
Child abuse is against the law.
If you think someone is hurting a child, you must tell the Child Welfare Agency in your state. This is the law. If you do not report your suspicions, you are breaking the law, too. There are two basic ways to tell if a child is being abused. One is by looking at the child for physical signs of abuse.