"Child neglect" is spelled with the following IPA phonetic transcription: /tʃaɪld nɪˈɡlɛkt/. The initial sound /tʃ/ represents the "ch" sound, followed by the vowel sound /aɪ/ (similar to the "ai" sound in "kind") and ending with the consonant cluster /ld/ and the word-final /ct/ with a silent "e". Child neglect refers to the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide for the basic needs of a child, including physical, emotional, and educational development.
Child neglect refers to the act of failing to provide adequate care or meet the basic needs of a child, resulting in harm or potential harm to their physical, mental, or emotional well-being. It is a form of child abuse and a serious concern for child welfare. Neglect may occur due to various factors such as parental ignorance, substance abuse, poverty, or mental health issues, but it is important to note that these factors do not justify the neglect or absolve the responsible individuals of their obligations towards the child.
Child neglect can manifest in different ways, including physical neglect, where the child's physical needs are not met such as lack of proper nutrition, clothing, personal hygiene, or medical care. It can also involve emotional neglect, where the parent or caregiver fails to provide a nurturing and supportive environment, proper supervision, or fails to address the child's emotional and psychological needs. Furthermore, educational neglect can occur when a child is not enrolled in school or does not receive appropriate educational support and supervision.
Child neglect can have severe and long-lasting consequences on a child's overall development and well-being. It may lead to physical injuries, malnutrition, impaired cognitive and social development, low self-esteem, emotional problems, and even death in extreme cases. Therefore, recognizing and reporting signs of child neglect is crucial to ensure the safety and protection of children, allowing appropriate intervention and support to be implemented for their welfare.
The word "neglect" comes from the Latin word "neglegere", which is a compound of "neg-" meaning "not" or "away" and "legere" meaning "to choose" or "to pick". The term "neglect" emerged in Middle English in the 15th century and originally meant "to pay no heed to" or "to disregard".
The term "child neglect" combines "child", which comes from Old English "cild" and refers to a young human being, with "neglect". "Child neglect" specifically refers to the failure of a parent or guardian to meet the basic needs and provide adequate care and supervision for a child, leading to harm or endangerment.