Breaking a child's bones is considered a form of what type of abuse?

Breaking a child's bones is considered a form of physical abuse because it involves the intentional infliction of bodily harm. Physical abuse is defined as any non-accidental act that results in physical injury to a child, which includes a range of harmful actions such as hitting, shaking, burning, or breaking bones. The key aspect of physical abuse is that it directly affects the child's body and can lead to significant pain, suffering, and long-term health issues.

In contrast, emotional abuse involves behaviors that harm a child's emotional well-being, such as verbal abuse or rejection, which do not result in physical injuries. Sexual abuse is any sexual act or exploitation involving a child, while neglect refers to a caregiver's failure to provide necessary care, supervision, and protection to a child, leading to harm or risk of harm. None of these other types of abuse directly results in physical injuries like broken bones, which is why physical abuse is the correct classification for this scenario.