Speech Goal: To inform the audience about physical child abuse. Introduction: I. I want everyone to take a moment to think back to your own childhood. Think about the things you wanted and the things you had. For some of us, our childhood was the best, but for others it probably could’ve gone better. II. Unfortunately for many children a day in life is something unwanted. III. Every child deserves to have a happy and experience a perfect childhood. Most children wish for a trip to Disney or anywhere to visit.
But in some cases a child could only wish for the love of a parent or a guardian. Thesis Statement: Child abuse is very mournful subject, but it’s something that needs attention and to be known, and it also needs a solution. Let’s begin with the meaning of child abuse… Body: I. What is child abuse? Child physical abuse and neglect occurs when a child’s physical health or welfare is harmed or threatened by the acts or omissions of his or her parents or caregivers. Harm refers to inflict of physical pain, resulting in injury, disfigurement or impairment of any bodily organ or death.
A. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, the number of children who were reported to be abused is 3. 6 million and about 6 million children were reported to local child protective services agencies across the country. 1. Children who are most likely to suffer abuse and neglect are around the ages of 18 months or younger. The number of children who died because of child abuse in the year 2012 is 287,000. 2. 80 percent of children who died because of abuse were younger than four and approximately 50 percent were younger than one year in range.
The rate between boys and girl is nearly the same. B. Herbert Ward, a famous English soccer player, once said, “Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime. ” Not only does child abuse physically and emotionally hurt during those young years of their life, but it prolongs all the way to adult hood. 1. According to another child abuse organization called “Do Something” abuse and neglected children are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior as an adult. 2. And 80 percent of 21-year-olds who were abused as a child met criteria for at least on psychological disorder. 4 percent of all men and 36 percent of all women in prison were abused as children. So it’s more than obvious that there is a reason behind of all the violent acts and crimes. Transition: Now that you know a little more about how many children suffer this abuse in our country, let’s move on to see how it affects them in their life. II. Some cases were child abuse was taking place, was because of a parent mal influenced their children. A child’s future depends highly on how a parent or guardians communicate with their kids. A.
Not only is physically hurting a child, abuse, but to the minimal, neglect, is abuse also. 1. Neglect is failing to provide food, housing, clothing, medical care, supervision, emotional support and education. 2. In this case 70 percent of children are neglected and is most common but, not well known. Leaving children feeling useless, unwanted, and unloved can lead to depression later in life, causing the victim abuse to become the suspect of their own maltreatment. B. The impact of child abuse and neglect is often discussed in terms of physical, psychological, behavioral, and social consequences. . Physical consequences, maybe as damage to a child’s brain, can have psychological implications such as a mental process delays or emotional difficulties. 2. Psychological problems often manifest as high-risk behaviors. Depression and anxiety, for example, may make a person more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, or illicit drugs, or overeat. High risk behaviors, in turn, can lead to long term physical health problems such as cancer and obesity. 3. Some of these children will grow up only being the reflection of what they once feared.
Transition: Not only being aware of this abuse is sufficient, but taking action into it and helping one in many children. III. So what can we do to help these children and stop child abuse? A. Jonathan Anthony author of the book Neglected but Undefeated said “Faith is why I’m here today and faith is why I made it through. ” 1. As a victim himself of child abuse, he leaves many children with strong hope. Unfortunately some children are not able to recover, but for those who do, it is because they received help and are offered love by those who truly care for them. . As not many children are able to stick up for themselves, overall they are defenseless, but you as an adult, aren’t. We can help a child by speaking out for them and letting their problem be known. B. Child abuse does not go away on its own, but 90 percent of child abuse is preventable. 1. Child abuse is a problem no one really talks about. Abuse and neglect are the number 1 cause of injury to children in the country. More children die of abuse or neglect than of natural causes. 2. So the main way to help a child is reporting an abuse if you suspect it’s happening.
A child will probably not understand, but will be truly grateful later in their life. Conclusion: In conclusion I. Your childhood might have been way better than most of these kids, but is it really all the materialistic things that are important? To these children it’s the love of a parent or guardian that they value the most. II. You’ve learned the seriousness of child abuse and how it affects many children; the only thing left is to take action. Keep in mind that it shouldn’t hurt to be a child.
