Far too many kids are exposed to abuse and neglect, both physical and emotional, and although it’s not pleasant to think about, statistics would indicate that you probably know at least one family that’s causing harm to their kids. If you’re in contact with a child through the school or after school clubs, or maybe it’s a friend of your own child, how would you know if they’re at risk, and what should you do if you suspect there’s a problem?

Signs that a child is at risk

Wondering whether a child is being neglected or abused isn’t the first question you’d ask yourself on an average day, and looking for possible indications of trouble at home in every child you meet isn’t a helpful or practical approach. Some people feel they have an instinct for when a child is unhappy or uncared for, and if you’re a parent yourself, you may well be sensitive to an unhappy child.

On a practical level, a child who is unkempt, has dirty or ill-fitting clothes, or misses school on a regular basis could be experiencing problems at home. Changes in a child’s personality, or being very quiet or disruptive could indicate they’re having emotional problems. These signs don’t mean a child is being abused; it could be that they live with a single parent who is struggling financially or has their own health problems – they could well be doing their best, but finding it hard to cope. Parents could be going through alcohol or narcotics withdrawal, like the treatments offered at this rehab center, and need support rather than condemnation.

What should you do if you’re worried about a child?

If you know them well, then you might be tempted to try talking to the child and finding out what’s wrong. Unfortunately, an act of kindness like this is rarely productive, because there’s so much you don’t know about the situation, and you won’t have the skills or authority to help.

Every US state has a system in place for people to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect, so the best action to take is contacting Child Protective Services (CPS) and tell them of your fears. CPS professionals are trained in assessing cases reported to them and intervening if a child is in need, so if you have sincere concerns it’s always best to give them a call and let them take over.

Calls to the CPS are confidential and toll-free, and you can find a list of numbers online at the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. The site also gives more information about the procedure in each state and is a good source of information on child welfare issues.

If you’re worried about a child’s welfare, you have a duty to take action. There may not be a problem, but if there is, it’s better to have done something about it than ignored it and let the child continue to suffer. We should all be looking out for children and doing our best to make sure they live happy, healthy lives.

Having a child with disabilities can bring with it many challenges. However, a child is still a child whether they have disabilities or not, and you will love and care for them the same as any other child. As they grow older, you will need to think of ways to adapt your home to meet their needs. This means putting a plan in place to put in the facilities and adaptations that you need for them to have a happy and healthy life.

Adding Space

One of the first things you need to think about is how much space you have in your home. If you are living in a small house, then you need to decide how to create more space in this area. Even if your child is not in a wheelchair, they may still need additional space to get around without falling. You might be able to accomplish this by moving some furniture or removing some from the house that you do not need. You might also be able to change the function of some of the rooms to allow more space to move around. This could be especially important if they need a home caregiver as they will also need access to the room. You can read more about caregiving and the services they offer online. As they grow older, this space may need to be increased to accommodate their growing size.

Make it Wheelchair Friendly

As well as adding more space to your home to help your child get around you might also want to consider making it wheelchair friendly in other ways. For example, you might want to get rid of raised thresholds. So it’s easier for a wheelchair to get through. You also want to think about access to the house; this could include having ramps put in and steps removed. It is also a good idea to think about areas outside of the house such as in the garden for example. The pathways need to be level and safe for someone to walk or use a wheelchair. Inside the house, you might want to look at the doorways to ensure that a wheelchair can pass through safely. If not, you may need to have the doorways adapted or removed to make the house open plan.

Check the Height of Objects and Facilities

If your child is going to be in a wheelchair for most of the time, then you need to think about adapting to other areas of the house. Some of the things to be aware of are light switches, doorknobs, and faucets. Things need to be of a height so your child can reach them if they need to. It will give them more independence and allow them to move around safely. If you are installing a chair lift, then it’s important the child is able to use it themselves if you wish them too. Their bedroom is one place in particular where you need to have as much to help them as possible. It needs to be child-friendly as well as wheelchair friendly so that they can move around freely and do things on their own if they wish to. This could include having an adjustable desk that they can sit at as well as an easy way in and out of bed. Above all, it needs to be a place where they can relax, listen to music, or watch TV.

Bathroom Adaptations

In many cases, the bathroom can pose the most difficult challenges when dealing with disabilities. If your child has difficulty sitting or standing on their own, then you may need to install aids to support the child. Firstly, however, you need to think about how your child will wash themselves. There are now many alternatives that you can consider such as wet rooms, walk-in bathtubs, and traditional showers. The one that you choose depends on the ability of your child to move around. For example, if your child can stand for a short period of time, then a shower might be the best option. However, if they cannot stand, then a chair in a shower could be the best option for you. It is also important to think about adding handles to the shower and to the toilet area so that your child can support themselves. Many bathrooms can be quite small, so it may be necessary to make the bathroom bigger by extending it.

Your Garden

Everybody enjoys being in the garden, and your children are no exception. However, a child with a disability can sometimes have issues navigate in a garden. To help with this, it is a good idea to ensure that your garden is safe for people with mobility aids and wheelchairs. You might want to install a slope from the back garden into the house; it should be easy for them to use so that they do not get stuck in the garden. Another good idea is to install paving through the garden so that they can take a wander through safely. You might even want to add some raised flower beds so that they can help plant some flowers or vegetables.

Think About the Details

Often, people will look at the bigger picture but will not consider the smaller details. For example, do you need to add push and pull faucet handles for your child to use on their own? Do you need to add easy to use door handles or have automatic doors? One way to make things more independent and automatic for your child is a smart hub. This can allow them to turn lights on and off, select movies and play music only using their voice. For children with highly limited mobility, this can be a hugely beneficial thing to have.

Your child wants to have the very best quality of life that they can get. And you as a parent also want to ensure that they have as much freedom as possible.

Moving to a new house is a minefield for adults, never mind children, so when the time comes, and you need to leave your home, suburb or even state, you need to approach the move sensitively with young ones.

A change of home is an upheaval at the best of times, but after a breakdown or change in the family situation, the effects can be more strongly felt. While you are busying yourself with contracts, real estate agents, boxes and transportation, your child will more than likely be sat watching on the sidelines and start to feel anxious.

There are several things that may cause a child to feel upset and anxious about the impending move.

• Loss

Your child may be focusing on what they are potentially going to lose. They may feel that they are going to lose friendships. Having to start over in a new school and establish themselves in a new peer group can be daunting. Even the fact that they are not going to have the same bedroom can make them feel that they are losing out. Use positive language and reinforce the positives they will gain when they move; perhaps a larger bedroom, a garden or even the opportunity to decorate their room the color that they want.

Tip: don’t buy new bed linen for their new room. Keeping their familiar bedding will soothe them during the first few nights in the new house.

• Exclusion

While you are busy organizing for the move, your child may feel excluded from the process. If it is possible, try to arrange a visit to the new property ahead of the move so that your child can see where they are going to be living. This will also remove the worry that they may have about whether the will like it.

If you can’t facilitate a visit to the property, Google Maps is a great way of introducing your children to their new neighborhood. They will be able to explore the area before they even move in. Make a list of the amenities that they can find:

• Their new school
• The bus stop
• The store
• The park

Not only will this keep them entertained while you are busy, but it’s a great way to get them familiar with their new suburb.

• Not communicating their worries

Your child may not want to tell you how they are really feeling because they know that you have a lot on your plate. It’s important that you spend relaxed time with them to give them the opportunity to tell you anything that is on their mind. Even minor worries can escalate if your child doesn’t share with you. Depending on the age of the child, they may not comprehend what moving to a new house means: does it mean they have to leave their toys? Will the dog come too?

Once you have established what it is worrying your child specifically, you can take action about alleviating their fears more proactively.

1. Be honest

Use age appropriate language and ways to tell your child about the move. While you may think that shielding them from it is protecting them, children have a knack of being able to read between the lines, but sometimes drawing the wrong conclusion.

If your child is very young, you can draw pictures to show them what moving to a new house means. Be ready to answer their questions honestly. By talking through what is going to happen, when move day comes, they will be prepared.

2. Check your stress

It’s all very good and well telling the child not to worry when you are worried yourself. Moving home is one of the most stressful things that you can do, so be kind to yourself during this period too. Children are like sponges and can pick up nuances in your mood. You don’t have to be rosy all of the time, but just be mindful that you have a young audience who will take cue from your attitude and mood.

Try to alleviate external stresses so that you can best manage the move. Financial worries will add to your stress, so if taking a loan will help you to move home stress-free, so be it. Bonsai Finance provide loans to people even if they have bad credit rating for exactly this type of situation. Make sure that you eat healthily and sleep well during this time; during times of stress, your body’s natural defenses can become challenged, so you must try to keep yourself healthy.

3. Give the children responsibilities

Make a list of jobs that your child can do to help you. Even the simplest of jobs will make them feel valued and part of the team. There is a high chance that you will have to repack their toy box, but by including them, they will feel less likely to feel anxious. Older children can be given the task of labeling boxes – a very important job that will make them like a boss!

4. Ask for help

You can’t do everything yourself, so ask for help from friends and family. People are typically more than willing to help loved ones, especially in a stressful situation. Don’t be shy about asking for childcare help if it means that you will be able to get jobs done quicker. With all the disruption, your child may not want to leave your side if they are feeling anxious, but that’s ok, don’t make a big deal out of it. Just simply ask your friend to mind your child while you work.

Unpack your child’s room first so that they can immediately feel at home. Pack toiletries, nightclothes, and any particularly special toys of your child in hand luggage so that you can access them quickly. You will all be exhausted and excited at the same time once you have moved. This is a great opportunity for new beginnings and dreams.