Signs that your grandchildren may be neglected at home

Sometimes being a grandparent means that you may have to face some facts that we prefer not to deal with. Child neglect is increasingly recognized as a major problem for more and more children. Neglect is a form of child abuse, and the warning sign is often overlooked, but don’t allow these signs to be ignored without asking questions. Children with parents who use illegal drugs or who abuse alcohol are often abused and afraid to tell anyone. Being abused and neglected can leave physical and mental scars that can be carried throughout a child’s life. Child neglect is not limited to any particular social or economic class. If you see any of these warning signs listed below, take the critical step and ask your grandchildren if they are being neglected or abused.

• Did you find a change in cleaning?

Have you noticed that your grandson does not look clean or that his hair does not look like it has been properly groomed and cared for?

• A change in eating habits?

Have your eating habits changed? Do they starve every time they come to your house, do they look with little food and hungry? Have they lost weight?

• Do you talk about staying home alone?

Have your grandchildren told you that you were home alone or have you called and their parents never answer the phone or are not available to speak with you?

• Are you missing a lot of school and normal activities?

Have you received calls that they are not in school or miss appointments that you know would normally not be missed?

• Have your sleeping habits changed?

Are you noticing that your grandchildren are afraid to sleep alone or wake up during the night?

• Are they wearing clothes that are not appropriate for the weather?

Does your grandson go without a coat in cold weather or with dirty clothes? Are they wearing clothes that are too big or too small?

These are some of the most prevalent signs of neglect or abuse, but certainly not all. The main thing to remember is to take note of changes in habits and ask questions when you see these changes. Changes may not always mean negligence, but it never hurts to ask why. Why things have changed and if there is a logical reason for these changes. Grandparents and grandchildren tend to know each other quite well and when things change they become noticeable. If you see warning signs of neglect, don’t let them go without helping your grandchildren. If you are part of the growing number of grandparents raising their grandchildren, enjoy a free gift for visiting the New Grandparents Rights site.