ADULTS DEFINING CHILD ABUSE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PHYSICAL ABUSE SEXUAL ABUSE EMOTIONAL ABUSE CHILD NEGLECT REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE WHAT IS A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER? CAC LC TEAM MEMBERS LINKS YOUTH NEWSLETTER VIEW THE LATEST CAC NEWSLETTER	PHYSICAL ABUSE Physical Abuse is characterized by the infliction of physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking or otherwise harming a child. The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child; rather, the injury may have resulted from over-discipline or physical punishment.