How can parents avoid mistreating children during the treatment journey?

Overview

Any intentional harm or abuse directed at a child under the age of 18 falls under the category of child abuse. Child abuse takes many forms that often occur simultaneously.

• Physical abuse: A child experiences physical abuse if they suffer a physical injury or are deliberately harmed by someone else.
• Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse of a child refers to engaging in any sexual activity with them. This includes sexual contact, such as intentional touching or fondling of genital areas. It also encompasses non-contact sexual abuse, like exposing the child to sexual activity or pornographic materials, watching them or filming them in a sexual manner, or sexually harassing them.
• Emotional abuse: Emotional abuse of a child means harming their self-esteem or emotional well-being. This includes verbal and psychological abuse – like insulting the child, belittling them, and constantly blaming them – as well as rejecting, ignoring, or dismissing them.
• Neglect: Child neglect refers to failing to provide adequately for a child’s basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, suitable living conditions, love and affection, supervision, education, dental care, or medical care.

Parenting Behaviors

Sometimes, the behavior of one parent raises warning signs indicating potential harm to the child. These warning signs include the following behaviors from one of the parents:

• Shows little interest in the child

• Seems unappreciative of the physical or emotional stress the child is going through

• Blames the child when problems arise

• Belittles or constantly criticizes the child, describing them with negative terms like “worthless” or “rotten”

• Expects the child to take care of them and feels jealous of other family members who receive attention from the child

• Uses harsh physical discipline

• Demands an unreasonable level of physical or academic performance from the child

• Excessively restricts the child’s communication with others

• Provides conflicting or unconvincing explanations for the child’s injuries, or doesn’t provide any explanations at all

• Frequently brings the child in for medical evaluations or requests medical tests, like X-rays and lab tests, out of fear of unseen illnesses during the doctor’s examination

Physical Punishment

Child health experts condemn the use of violence in any form, but some still resort to physical punishment, like spanking, as a way to discipline their kids. While parents often use physical punishment with the intention of helping their children or improving their behavior, research shows that spanking actually teaches kids worse behaviors, and it can lead to serious physical consequences like internal bleeding, concussions, and sometimes even multiple fractures, especially in children with cancer, as treatment reduces blood platelets, making them more susceptible to bleeding.

Complications

Some children manage to overcome the physical and psychological effects of their mistreatment, particularly those who receive strong social support and have skills that allow them to be resilient and adapt to bad experiences, overcoming their impact. However, many others face issues stemming from their abuse, whether physical, behavioral, emotional, or mental health problems, which can last for several years.

Prevention

You can take some important steps to protect your child from exploitation and abuse, as well as to prevent child abuse in your neighborhood or community. The goal is to provide safe, stable, and healthy relationships for children. Here are some guidelines on how to help keep children safe:

• Give your child love and attention: Make sure to care for your child, listen to them, and actively engage in their life to build trust and good communication between you. Encourage your child to talk to you about any problems they face. Providing a supportive family environment and social networks can enhance your child’s self-esteem and confidence. 
• Don’t confront your child out of anger: If you feel overwhelmed or that your emotions are getting out of control, take a break. But don’t take your frustration out on your child. Consult a doctor or therapist about ways you can learn to cope with stress and handle your child better. 
• Consider supervision: Don’t leave a young child alone at home. In public places, don’t let them out of your sight. Volunteer at school activities and other events to get to know the adults spending time with your child. And when your child is old enough to go out unsupervised, advise them to avoid strangers and spend time with friends instead of being alone. Set a rule that your child always tells you where they’re going. Know who’s supervising your child; for example, at sleepovers at friends’ houses. 
• Get to know your child’s caregivers: Ask about your babysitters and caregivers. Arrange for a number of unannounced, but regular visits to keep an eye on what’s happening in your absence. Don’t allow an alternative caregiver to substitute for the regular one if you don’t know that person well. 
• Focus on situations where your child should say no: Make sure your child understands that they don’t have to do anything that scares them or makes them uncomfortable. Advise your child to immediately get away from any situation that feels threatening or frightening and to seek help from a trusted adult. If something happens, encourage them to talk about it with you or another trusted adult. Reassure your child that it’s okay to speak up and that they won’t get in trouble for it.
• Connect with others: Set up meetups with families in your neighborhood that include both parents and kids. Build a network of supportive family and friends. If you notice that a friend or neighbor is facing some difficulties, offer to babysit their child or help them in any other way. Consider joining a parent support group to find a good outlet for the frustration you’re feeling.
• Establish clear rules for interaction within the home to ensure equality among all family members, reducing the risk of jealousy between the kids.
• Ask your doctor to refer your child to a social worker or mental health specialist.
• Seek help from professionals to organize your life around the changes brought by the new illness.
• Inquire with patient relations about services available to assist with handling the child, such as art workshops and outings.
• If you’re feeling psychological pressure, ask for a consultation at the mental health department.
• Explain any family changes to the kids in simple terms.
• Notice any changes in the child, such as nightmares, sudden withdrawal, or unexplained anger.

How to Deal with a Child with Cancer

Many mothers whose children are suffering from cancer wonder about the right ways to improve their child’s mental state so they can accept the illness and participate in the treatment plan.

There are several tips and methods for dealing with a child in this situation so they can overcome their illness without affecting their mental well-being, including:

Not Ignoring the Problem

Talk to the child about the illness and explain that this is a problem we will solve and treat..

Talking with the Child

The illness weighs heavily on the patient, making them feel older than they are, so you must make them feel mature and aware, discussing what they want to understand about the experience they’re going through.

Optimism

Encourage them that they will overcome the illness and return to their normal life again.

Maintaining Routine

Let the child live their life normally without any changes to the routine they are used to, so they don’t feel like a burden to those around them.

Family Support

Family members, not just the mother, should all come together and stand by their side without making them feel that their illness affects the lifestyle they are used to, such as going out or traveling.