When a preschool teacher pulls you aside and whispers that a colleague grabbed your child and withheld food and water, the ground shifts under you. The scenario is not hypothetical for many families. Reports of suspected abuse in licensed childcare settings surface regularly across the country, and Indiana law is explicit about what must happen next: every adult who has reason to believe a child has been harmed is legally required to report it.
This guide walks through what Indiana parents, teachers, and caregivers need to know when abuse is suspected in a preschool or daycare, from recognizing warning signs to filing a report and understanding what follows.
What counts as abuse in a preschool setting
Grabbing a child forcefully and denying food or water are not gray-area discipline. Under Indiana law (Ind. Code § 31-9-2-14), child abuse includes any act or omission by a caregiver that results in physical injury, pain, or impairment, or that creates a substantial risk of harm. Withholding basic necessities like food and water falls under neglect.
From a clinical standpoint, the Mayo Clinic’s overview of child abuse notes that warning signs can include unexplained bruises or marks, sudden fearfulness around specific adults, regression in behavior such as bedwetting or clinginess, and changes in eating habits. A child who was previously happy at drop-off and now screams or refuses to enter the building is communicating something. Parents should pay attention to those shifts, even when the child cannot articulate what happened.
Indiana’s mandatory reporting law covers everyone
Indiana is one of roughly 18 states where every adult is a mandatory reporter, not just teachers, doctors, or social workers. Under Ind. Code § 31-33-5-1, any person who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report to the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) or local law enforcement…