Child Neglect In Parenting: A Case To Pay Attention -By Sarah Umaru

Child neglect is a form of abuse that can have severe and long-lasting consequences on a child’s physical, emotional, and psychological development. Unlike physical abuse, child neglect is often more challenging to identify, as it may not leave visible signs of harm. It involves the failure of parents or caregivers to provide necessary care, support, and protection to children, including adequate food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care, and emotional nurturing.

Child neglect can take several forms which could be Physical Neglect: This occurs when a child’s basic needs for food, clothing, shelter, and hygiene are not met. This could manifest in a lack of appropriate clothing for the weather, hunger, or unclean living conditions, Medical Neglect: When a child’s health is put at risk due to failure to provide necessary medical or dental care, such as vaccines, check-ups, or treatment for injuries and illnesses, Educational Neglect: This occurs when a parent or caregiver fails to ensure that a child attends school regularly or receives proper education, leading to academic and developmental delays and Emotional Neglect: Emotional neglect can happen when a child’s emotional needs for love, care, and support are not met. This can result in low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.

Several factors that usually contribute to child neglect could be Poverty: Financial struggles can limit access to essential resources for a child’s well-being, Mental Health Issues: Parents with untreated mental health conditions may struggle to provide proper care for their children, Substance Abuse: Addiction can impair a parent’s ability to meet a child’s needs, Lack of Education: A lack of understanding about a child’s needs or how to properly care for them can lead to neglect and also stress: High levels of stress from personal or work-related issues can detract from a parent’s ability to focus on their child’s needs.

Child neglect can have far-reaching effects on a child’s life: Physical Health: Neglected children may suffer from malnutrition, poor hygiene, or untreated medical conditions, Emotional and Mental Health: Emotional neglect can lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and difficulty forming relationships, Cognitive and Social Development: Neglected children may struggle academically and have difficulty with social interactions and Behavioral Problems: Neglected children may exhibit behavioural issues such as aggression, withdrawal, or difficulty in school.

Prevention and early intervention are essential in addressing child neglect. Education and Support is one of the measures in Providing parents with resources and information about proper childcare and available support services, community Involvement: Community organizations can offer programs to support families and monitor child welfare, reporting Suspected Neglect: It is important for community members to report suspected neglect to child protective services.

Child neglect is a serious issue that can have lifelong consequences for children. By recognizing the signs and causes of neglect and taking appropriate action, society can help protect vulnerable children and support struggling families.

Sarah Umaru from the department of Mass communication of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi and can be reach through umarusarah34@gmail.com