Prevent Child Abuse Nevada
Choose your Partner and Caregivers Carefully
The Choose Your Partner and Caregiver Carefully Campaign is an effort to support and educate parents in our community about the risk that children face when they are left alone under the care of non-relatives; such as a boyfriend or girlfriend of the parent, a paid caregiver, roommate, neighbor, etc.
It’s a common mistake to think that just because someone loves you, they will be able to safely care for your child. It’s important to understand that not everyone has the parenting skills and patience necessary to provide care for a child. In these situations, in Nevada, we have seen children abused and sometimes killed.
Fortunately, not all of these incidents end in fatality, but in order to prevent abuse and/or neglect of children, Prevent Child Abuse Nevada, in partnership with several other community agencies, has initiated this campaign to educate parents on how to keep their children safe.
How to Choose Your Partner / Person(s) Caring for Your Child
How well do you know the person who will be caring for your child?
Choosing an appropriate caregiver, including a caregiving partner, is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. Just because someone is a lover, relative, or close friend does not mean they are capable of taking care of a child.
If you have an uncomfortable feeling about a person, you probably have a good reason. Follow your instincts. Take a safety test, and always make a decision in your child’s best interest.
Take the Safety Test
- How do they treat other women/men in thier life? How do they treat other children (nieces, nephews, friends’ children, etc.)?
- Do they get angry when you spend time with your child?
- Do they get angry or impatient when your child cries or has a tantrum?
- Do they call your child bad names or put them down?
- Do they think it’s funny to scare your child?
- Do they make all the decisions for you and your child?
- Do they put you down or tell you that you’re a bad parent or that you shouldn’t have your kids?
- Do they pretend when they hurt your child that you are to blame or that it’s no big deal?
- Do they tell you that our child is a nuisance or annoying?
- Do they scare your child by using guns, knives, or other weapons?
If you answered yes to even one of these questions, your child could be at risk. Never leave your child with someone you don’t trust to keep your child safe.
Warning Signs
Choose a person to care for your child that is NOT:
- Angry or impatient when children have tantrums, cry, or misbehave.
- Violent and/or controlling with their partner.
- Abusing alcohol and drugs, including marijuana.
- Using prescription medications that have bad side effects or make the person drowsy.
- Untrustworthy for any reason.
Discipline or Abuse?
Could your partner be abusing your child and calling it, “punishment?” Learn to recognize the difference between punishment and abuse. It could save your child’s life. Discipline runs the risk of being excessive if…
- The child has a physical injury, such as bruising, broken skin, swelling, marks from an object such as an extension cord or hairbrush, a burn, or a situation that requires medical attention.
- The person administering the punishment means instilling fear rather than educating your child.
- The person administering the punishment loses control.
- The action is inappropriate for the child’s age.
- The action results from unreasonable demands or expectations for the child.
When Do I Know if I’ve Gone Too Far?
Ask yourself how you feel about the discipline.
- Do I feel good about this action?
- Is there an important lesson to be taught?
- Does the child know that the person giving the punishment loves them?
- Is there mutual respect, or is there fear?
- Are you or your partner behaving in a way you would like your child to behave?
Your child needs to know that you are in charge, but that you love and respect them. They should not fear you or your partner. Talk to your children and decide together on expectations and reasonable consequences for misbehavior.
Find Safe & Appropriate Child Care by Asking Questions:
What to ask the in-home child caregiver?
- Can they work the required hours?
- Will they pick up the child and comfort a crying baby?
- How would they handle a toddler’s temper tantrum?
- How do they handle sick children?
- Can they work late if needed?
To see the complete list, click here.
What to ask child care centers?
- What kind of experience do they have caring for children?
- What kind of training do they have in early child development, first aid, CPR, and nutrition?
- Who will be caring for my child?
- What if I can’t pick up my child on time?
- Are there written contracts, and emergency and sickness plans?
To see the complete list, click here.
If you believe that your child is being harmed by your partner, then…
Immediately get you and your child to a safe place. If you cannot get to a SAFE place please call your local domestic violence shelter. Contact your local Children Services and Law Enforcement.
Schedule a Free Presentation
If you would like to schedule a training for your organization or for a group of parents that you work with, please contact us at 702-895-5053 or email preventchildabusenevada@unlv.edu.
The Choose your Partner and Caregiver Carefully is a FREE presentation that is geared toward specific audiences including mental health professionals, parents, and those who work in youth-serving organizations.
The CYPC is offered by a trained facilitator and is 1 hour in length and can be offered in English or Spanish. The CYPC provides the most up-to-date information on child maltreatment prevention. The information presented is all cited, well researched, and well-received.
Read here the Read the Choose Your Partner Carefully Campaign Evaluation Report here
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