ABSTRACT
Most children have healthy and happy childhoods. This chapter discusses physical, sexual and emotional abuse and fabricated/induced illness (FII). It outlines the kinds of things that an early years practitioner might see or hear that should raise a level of concern. The chapter points out that it is possible for a child to experience emotional abuse, emotional neglect and consequential abuse concurrently. Deliberate poisoning of children is rare in the United Kingdom, and when it does happen it is often associated with FII. Female genital mutilation (FGM) may be acceptable in some parts of the world, but in the United Kingdom it is regarded as a form of child abuse and is a criminal offence. The chapter reinforces the point that it is not the role of the early years worker to investigate child abuse, but those working in such settings are in a good position to recognise abuse, understand its impact and take action to safeguard the child.
