Nursery World - Animal and child abuse link

Children being cruel to animals may be a sign that they themselves have been seriously abused or neglected in their homes, a national children's charity has claimed. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has made the claim in a booklet, Understanding the Links, published earlier this month. The booklet's aim is to raise awareness among professionals across the UK who work with children, families or animals about the links between cruelty towards children, animals and domestic violence.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has made the claim in a booklet, Understanding the Links, published earlier this month. The booklet's aim is to raise awareness among professionals across the UK who work with children, families or animals about the links between cruelty towards children, animals and domestic violence.

The booklet says, 'If a child is cruel to animals this may be an indicator that serious neglect and abuse have been inflicted on the child. While recent research in the UK suggests that animal abuse by children is quite widespread, in a minority of more extreme cases it appears to be associated with abuse of the child, or subsequent abusive behaviour by the child.'

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