Did you know that in 2011, nearly five children died every day in America due to child abuse and neglect? In this research paper I will discuss what child abuse and neglect is. Then we will find out why some parents choose to abuse their children. Next, I will dive into a discussion about the long-term effects of child abuse. Finally, we will explore which age groups are affected by abuse. What is child abuse and neglect? According to Child Help, there are different forms of abuse. There is physical abuse, which means any non-accidental injury to a child which includes hitting, kicking, slapping, burning, hair pulling, throwing and whipping. There is also sexual abuse, which is any sexual act between an adult and a child. This would be fondling, sex and pornography. An example of another type of abuse would be emotional abuse, which is any attitude or behavior that interferes with a child's mental health. This would include yelling, screaming, shaming, and name-calling. What is negligence? Well, this means the inability to provide for a child's physical needs. There are different types of abandonment: physical, educational, emotional, medical. Physical neglect involves leaving a child alone for an excessive period of time given the child's age and cognitive abilities. Educational neglect is when the Schmidt2 child is not allowed to attend school. Emotional neglect occurs when the parent encourages the child to steal or engage in other illegal activities. Medical malpractice involves denying medically indicated treatment to disabled children with life-threatening conditions. That would include a lack of supervision, clothing inappropriate for the climate, and denial of medical care. Most people wonder why parents choose to abuse their children.... .. middle of paper... their children automatically receive a child abuse charge and are usually taken away. Additionally, parents sometimes have to attend parenting classes to demonstrate that they know they have made mistakes. Work Cited Streetman, Cori P. “NATIONAL CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE.” National Children's Alliance Digital Media Kit. National Children's Alliance, 2009. Web. 21 November 2013. Giovane, Dafne. “National Child Abuse Statistics.” Prevention and treatment of child abuse. Help for Kids, 2013. Web. November 21, 2013. Smith, Melinda. “Child Abuse and Neglect.” : Recognize, prevent and report child abuse. Help Guide, August 2013. Web. November 21, 2013. Berman, Laura. “Effects of Sexual Abuse.” Oprah.com. Np, 2013. Web. November 25, 2013. McLean, Lynne. “What is child abuse?” Collin County Children's Advocacy Center: Short-term and long-term effects of abuse. Children's Advocacy Center, 2013. Web. Nov. 27. 2013.