Parents need to work to give their children a good quality of life. Often that means you must leave your child with another trusted adult. However, not everyone has the luxury of having a grandparent or family member nearby. Therefore, as a working parent, you look to day care centers to temporarily watch over your child.
You pay the day care center a fee to ensure nothing happens to your child because sometimes you must leave your child there for hours. That should not be a problem. You do your job while they do their job. Their job is to care for your child as any reasonable adult in the same field would. Unfortunately, neglect and abuse can happen anywhere, including at day care. By recognizing the warning signs, you can put an end to it and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Signs of abuse and neglect at day care
The warning signs of abuse and neglect can manifest in different ways, which can be hard to detect for the busy parent. Any changes in your child’s mood or behavior can indicate something is amiss. You might want to start asking questions. Here are other signs of abuse and neglect:
- Your child is unusually thirsty or hungry after day care
- Your child’s diaper is soiled
- Your child has unexplained injuries, including bruises, scratches, cuts and scrapes
- Your child is unusually withdrawn or suddenly shy
- Your child becomes progressively angry and aggressive
- Your child has nightmares or sleep disturbances
- Your child is anxious, depressed and has diminished self-esteem
- Your child has inappropriate knowledge about sex or sexually suggestive topics
- Your child has difficulty walking or sitting
- Your child is reluctant to go to day care
While abuse can be physical, it can also be sexual and emotional. The latter two types of abuse are not as apparent, although they have more devastating long-term effects on a child. It is crucial to identify the damages so you can take legal action.
Personal injury lawsuit for abuse and neglect
In Oklahoma, personal injury lawsuits can come from intentional tort (abuse) or the liability principle of negligence (neglect). You can seek justice for the unlawful actions of the day care staff who executed the abuse or allowed it to continue. More importantly, your case would be pivotal in preventing it from happening to other children.