CDA Child Abuse Prevention, Recognition, and Mandatory Reporting 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of physical abuse in a child care setting?
- A caregiver spanks a child as a form of discipline (Correct answer)
- A caregiver ignores a child's requests for attention
- A caregiver fails to provide adequate meals for a child
- A caregiver uses inappropriate language around children
Correct answer: A caregiver spanks a child as a form of discipline
Physical abuse includes any non-accidental physical injury inflicted on a child, including hitting, spanking, or other forms of corporal punishment.
Question 2: Which type of child maltreatment involves a caregiver failing to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, or supervision?
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Neglect (Correct answer)
- Sexual abuse
Correct answer: Neglect
Neglect is the failure to provide a child's basic physical, educational, emotional, or medical needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and supervision.
Question 3: A child in your care frequently arrives with unexplained bruises in various stages of healing. What should a CDA professional do first?
- Confront the parents directly about the bruises
- Document the observations and report concerns to the appropriate authority (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the bruising pattern continues before taking action
- Ask other staff to confirm your suspicions before reporting
Correct answer: Document the observations and report concerns to the appropriate authority
CDA professionals must document observations objectively and report suspected abuse to the appropriate child protective services or mandated authority immediately.
Question 4: Emotional abuse in early childhood most commonly includes which of the following?
- Failing to provide appropriate clothing for cold weather
- Persistent criticism, threats, rejection, or humiliation directed at a child (Correct answer)
- Leaving a child unsupervised for extended periods
- Exposing a child to inappropriate sexual content
Correct answer: Persistent criticism, threats, rejection, or humiliation directed at a child
Emotional abuse involves a pattern of behavior that impairs a child's emotional development or sense of self-worth, such as persistent criticism, threats, rejection, or humiliation.
Question 5: Which physical indicator is most commonly associated with sexual abuse in young children?
- Frequent unexplained bruising on the arms and legs
- Difficulty walking or sitting, or pain/itching in the genital area (Correct answer)
- Malnourishment and poor hygiene
- Unexplained burn marks on the skin
Correct answer: Difficulty walking or sitting, or pain/itching in the genital area
Physical indicators of sexual abuse may include difficulty walking or sitting and unexplained pain, bruising, or itching in the genital or rectal area.
Question 6: A child discloses to you that a family member has been hurting them at home. What is the most appropriate immediate response?
- Tell the child not to worry and change the subject
- Immediately call the child's other parent to inform them
- Listen calmly, believe the child, reassure them, and report the disclosure promptly (Correct answer)
- Ask the child detailed questions to gather as much information as possible
Correct answer: Listen calmly, believe the child, reassure them, and report the disclosure promptly
When a child discloses abuse, professionals should listen calmly, affirm and believe the child, offer reassurance, and report the disclosure to authorities—not conduct an investigation.
Question 7: Which behavioral sign may indicate that a child is experiencing abuse or neglect?
- Showing age-appropriate curiosity about the environment
- Sudden changes in behavior, withdrawal, or regression to earlier behaviors (Correct answer)
- Asking many questions during storytime
- Preferring to play with one particular type of toy
Correct answer: Sudden changes in behavior, withdrawal, or regression to earlier behaviors
Sudden behavioral changes, unexplained withdrawal, regression to earlier behaviors, or extreme mood swings can be indicators that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect.
CDA Child Abuse Prevention, Recognition, and Mandatory Reporting 1
Which of the following is an example of physical abuse in a child care setting?