The injury may have resulted from overdiscipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child's age or condition. The injury may be the result of a single episode or of repeated episodes and can range in severity from minor bruising to death. Any injury resulting from physical punishment that requires medical treatment is considered outside the realm of normal disciplinary measures. In addition, any punishment that involves hitting with a closed fist or an instrument, kicking, inflicting burns, or throwing the child is considered child abuse regardless of the severity of the injury sustained. Child Neglect Child neglect is characterized by failure to provide for the child's basic needs.
Neglect can be physical, educational, or emotional.
Educational neglect includes permission of chronic truancy, failure to enroll a child of mandatory school age, and inattention to a special educational need. Emotional neglect includes such actions as chronic or extreme spouse abuse in the child's presence, permission of drug or alcohol use by the child, and refusal or failure to provide needed psychological care. It is very important to distinguish between neglect and a parent's or caretaker's failure to provide necessities of life because of poverty or cultural norms. Most State laws distinguish between sexual abuse and sexual assault. Sexual assault is usually defined as sexual acts committed by a person who is not responsible for the care of the child.