Physical abuse

This includes hitting, kicking, punching and other ways of inflicting pain or injury such as poisoning (perhaps with harmful drugs or alcohol), drowning or smothering.

The effects on children

Physical abuse can have long-term effects on a child's health and development. It can cause:

• physical injury 
• brain damage 
• disability 
• emotional, behavioural or educational problems.

For some children, these difficulties can continue in to adulthood. For example, people who were physically abused as children may have problems with personal relationships and they may be more likely to treat their own children abusively.

How much they will be affected depends on: 

• the child's age 
• the frequency of the abuse 
• how long it has been happening.

But sometimes a severe isolated incident can affect a child as badly as ongoing abuse.

Who physically abuses children?

There is no single group of people who physically abuse children. But sometimes parents, carers and other relatives may do so in order to control a child.

Being a parent and having to discipline a child can be very stressful. So the NSPCC has advice on managing children's behaviour without smacking.

What are the signs of physical abuse?

There are many physical and other signs of physical abuse.
Read more about the possible signs