When people think about Florida child abuse, they often imagine that an adult is abusing a child. While this is typical, there are younger abusers in some cases—children abusing other children. This is often referred to as child-on-child sexual abuse and usually occurs when an older adolescent child sexually abuses a younger child.
Interestingly, children who sexually abuse other children have often been abused by an adult, other child, or exposed to pornography at a young age. In turn, they victimize other children by coercing a younger child using:
- Threats
- Physical force
- Emotional manipulation
- Trickery
Sadly, younger children who are naïve do not realize what is happening to them because they are unfamiliar with sexual acts. Also, parents are often unaware that other children can present a risk to their kid. This is why it is important, although a difficult subject to address, that parents and caregivers are aware of these potential risks so they may be able to recognize warning signs. Signs could include changes in your child’s behavior, nightmares, anxiety separation, not wanting to go somewhere he or she used to like going, depression, withdrawing, a drop off in school performance, and even regressive behaviors like bedwetting or sucking on his or her thumb.
If your child has been abused by another child, you still need to pursue justice. To find out more about a civil lawsuit, please call Mallard Perez at 888-409-3805 to speak with a knowledgeable Sarasota child injury lawyer in a complimentary, no-obligation consultation today and request a free copy of our book, When the Unthinkable Happens: Your Guide to Florida Child Abuse Claims, to help you during this difficult and very emotional time.
