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Sometimes children are too young to understand what is happening to them, and they don’t have the words to tell their parents that they are being abused. Other times, children are threatened by their abusers to never tell anyone—so they don’t. This is why children who are Florida sexual abuse victims often use indirect messages to hint that something is not right.
Unfortunately, parents can overlook these top 10 hints if they do not know what to watch for, such as:
- Refusing or not wanting to go to school (not just because a child didn’t study for a test)
- Refusing or not wanting to go to the Boy Scouts
- Refusing or not wanting to go to a friend’s or relative’s house
- Not wanting to go somewhere that he or she once enjoyed
- Having a consistent upset stomach or displaying anxiety and crying before going to a specific place
- Constantly making excuses to get out of going somewhere
- Saying “I don’t want to be his friend anymore” or “I just don’t like that person anymore”
- Showing fear to be around a certain child or adult
- Loss of interest in school, such as a sudden drop off in grades (not just on one test)
- Being withdrawn and not wanting to be around anyone anymore
When your child demonstrates some of these things, he might be indirectly telling you that he is scared of someone. By being aware of these indirect messages, you may be able to tell that something is not right.
If your child has been a victim of Florida sexual abuse, contact Mallard Perez to speak with an experienced Sarasota child abuse attorney. Dial 888-409-3805 for your free consultation, and download a copy of our free book, When the Unthinkable Happens: Your Guide to Florida Child Abuse Claims.