Children's Aid Society of Toronto. All rights reserved. Discovering that a child is a victim of abuse is an unpleasant experience. Keeping alert to the signs of child abuse requires caring vigilance. The best way to respond to a child you suspect may have been abused is to listen carefully and be attentive to the child's behaviour.
Children are often cautious when disclosing abuse.
They may speak using childish language or use terms that are unfamiliar to you. Some children may not say anything about the abuse but may assume that the abuse has marked them in some way that should be obvious to adults. It is for this reason that you should be aware of the physical and behavioural indicators of child abuse. If a child discloses to you, it is important not to carry out an investigation yourself as this may jeopardize the case in a court of law. Believe in the child Accept what the child tells you despite how difficult it may be to accept the identity of the abuser or that the abuse occurred.