While The Woodlands feels like a safe and family-friendly bubble, our community is sadly not immune to horrific crimes like daycare sexual abuse. In 2023, local advocacy group Children’s Safe Harbor reviewed 7,324 child abuse cases in Montgomery County, and a whopping 66.6% of these cases were instances of sexual abuse.
Parents in The Woodlands should know that more than a third of daycare-age children are daycare sexual abuse victims, according to the nonprofit Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). These horrific crimes against children include any sexual activity such as touching, fondling, and intercourse.
Our experienced daycare injury lawyers have seen firsthand how predatory workers at childcare facilities in The Woodlands groom a child to gain their trust before abusing them. In fact, 90% of children know their abuser—a daycare director, staff member, or teacher, for example—according to the child abuse nonprofit Darkness to Light. Grooming a child at a daycare center in The Woodlands can look like:
- Asking the child to keep secrets
- Forcing physical contact disguised as playing, such as hugging, tickling, or wrestling
- Giving the child presents
- Offering to take the child on an overnight outing
- Intentionally walking in on the child while they are using the restroom
- Singling out a child by calling them their “favorite” in the class
RAINN is a great resource for parents seeking other warning signs that a daycare worker is grooming their child.
We are helping parents in The Woodlands identify red flags—both obvious and more hidden signs—that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse at a local daycare center and what you can do to stop it.
What Are Red Flags That a Child Is Being Sexually Abused at a Daycare Center in The Woodlands?
Being aware of the physical and behavioral signs of sexual abuse can help you protect your child and remove them from a dangerous daycare center in The Woodlands. Parents should be alert to the following physical red flags that could indicate your child is a victim of sexual abuse at a local center:
- Bleeding, bruising, or swelling around the genital area
- Bloody, torn, or stained clothing
- Difficulty walking or sitting
- Infections or soreness around the genital area, such as urinary tract infections, yeast infections, or signs of sexually transmitted diseases
- Pain when using the bathroom
Sexual abuse takes an emotional toll on victims, especially young children. In fact, changes in a child’s behavior can be the biggest indicator when a child may not have the words to describe their experience or the ability to process their emotions, or they may be scared to open up about the abuse due to threats from the predatory caregiver.
Key behavioral indicators include:
- Anxiety or fear about daycare. A child who is being sexually abused at daycare might fake an illness to get out of going or express anxiety or fear about being dropped off at daycare. If this seems to be a recurring pattern, it could mean abuse has occurred.
- Changes in mood, including signs of depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), such as becoming hyperfocused on their appearance or toys to the point that it interferes with daily activities or causes the child significant stress when the behaviors are not expressed.
- Exhibiting signs of fear or throwing tantrums when left alone with a certain person or during physical contact, such as hugging, holding hands to cross a street, or other platonic scenarios.
- Recurring nightmares. When your child suddenly starts having bad dreams or difficulty sleeping, this might mean something is happening at daycare.
- Sudden changes in behavior. Young children, in particular, often start to act out when they are experiencing abuse. If your normally even-tempered child suddenly starts to show aggressive behavior, this could mean there is daycare abuse. Some children will regress (for example, a child who is potty trained might suddenly start wetting or soiling their underwear). Children who are abused may also exhibit symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Unusual interest in sexual matters. Often, children who have experienced sexual abuse will start to act out inappropriate sexual behavior. Some children might have knowledge about sexual matters well beyond what they should know at their age.
Additional warning signs of daycare sexual abuse explained by our experienced daycare injury lawyers are identified in this video.
Can I Sue a Daycare Center After My Child Was Sexually Abused in its Care?
Parents in The Woodlands have a right to file a lawsuit if their child was sexually abused by a predatory caregiver or another child at a daycare center. Taking this step aims to hold the center accountable for the child’s traumatic experience and seek compensation, also known as damages, for the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts that result from abuse.
Damages that may compensate a child and their family for being victimized include:
- Emotional distress
- Medical expenses, including a child’s ongoing or future medical treatments
- Pain and suffering
- Therapy and other long-term helpful resources to help heal any mental anguish or psychological trauma from the abuse
Because sexual abuse is a criminal offense, there could be a separate criminal case along with a civil lawsuit against the daycare center. For more information on these types of cases, click here.
We are ready to listen and advise your family on the best approach to hold the daycare center in The Woodlands accountable and get justice for your child’s sexual abuse. However, there is a two-year time limit for filing a claim after an incident of abuse is discovered, so reach out to our team as soon as possible. Call us at 281-857-6116, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.
Helping Young Victims of Daycare Sexual Abuse in The Woodlands, Texas
Our team of experienced and compassionate daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child is the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of caregivers or other children at a daycare center in The Woodlands. We are ready to listen and fight to help your family get justice and move forward. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116, email us at [email protected], or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation.
.png)
.png)
