Designed to help keep all children safe from abuse; includes resources for parents of children with special needs.

Questions and Answers

Parents and other caring adults are aware that there is child abuse in every community, and they want to know how to prevent it. Here are some of the answers.

Child Safety
The more complex our world, the more potential risks there are for children. It is the job of adults to keep children safe in and out of the home.

Child Abuse
The word "parent" come from Latin, meaning protector. To keep children safe, we need to know the facts. If we suspect that a child is being abused, we need to REPORT IT.

Talking to Kids
Keeping the lines of communication open with our children is one of the best ways to help keep them safe. If we listen to them when they are little, they are more likely to talk to us when they are older.

Child Development
Adults having unrealistic expectations of children can lead to frustration and even abuse. Knowing what children can generally be expected to do at each age and how we can encourage their growth and development goes a long way in easing parenting stress.

Children with Special Needs
Research has shown that children with disabilities are at higher risk for maltreatment than other children.

Discipline
Discipline of children can be teaching and guiding instead of punishing. Corporal punishment can sometimes stop misbehavior in the short term, but overall it teaches that it's okay to hit another person when you are angry or want your own way. Teaching children to calm themselves, problem solve and eventually set their own limits makes for happy, well-functioning adults.

You are invited to submit additional questions you have about keeping children safe from all forms of child maltreatment. The most frequently asked questions and their answers will appear on this site in the future. No identifying information about you will be posted. E-mail your suggestions for Parent-Wise “Questions and Answers” to parentws@peds.arizona.edu. We regret that individual responses to your questions are not possible. If you need individual assistance, please refer to the crisis hotline numbers.

Last Updated September 5, 2007
E-mail your comments and suggestions to parentws@peds.arizona.edu.