IntroductionFrom birth, children depend on adults to help them navigate and engage in life. These adults should nurture and fulfill the child's basic needs such as shelter, food, clothing. For some children this does not happen. Instead of providing love to children, some adults and caregivers, not accidentally, inflict trauma or physical injury on a child, giving us the terms “child physical abuse” or “battered child syndrome.” In 2013, approximately 679,000 cases were investigated for children. mistreatment and/or negligence. Of the 679,000 cases, 18% of children suffered physical abuse. The reasons for the abuse and the characteristics of the victims and perpetrators may vary, but the effects of physical abuse on a child can potentially have the same results. To address the problem of physical child abuse, it is necessary to research and understand the history, root causes, symptoms, associated variables, characteristics of victims and perpetrators, and their indicators. Although this abuse occurs directly on the child, this issue is still a global issue. It is deeply rooted in economic, cultural and social practices. The History of Child Abuse and Neglect The history of physical abuse is a long one. For centuries the law has failed to protect children from abuse. Until the late 1800s, children were considered the property of their fathers and their education was a private domestic activity left to the discretion of the father. That is, until the Mary Ellen Wilson case of 1874 captured the nation's attention. Mary Ellen was an eight-year-old orphan who received daily whippings and beatings from her adoptive mother. Wheeler, Mary Ellen's neighbor, learned of the abuse and continued... halfway through the document... victimsThe younger a child is, the more vulnerable he or she is to becoming a victim of physical child abuse. Based on 2011 statistics from the Children's Bureau, 57.4 percent of abused children are under the age of seven, with 34 percent between birth and age three. (Crosson-Tower, 2014, p. 90). In addition to their age making them more prone to physical abuse, children with special needs are also at risk. Children who have physical disabilities, mental health problems or are chronically ill can add to the caregiver's burden, adding stress or additional stress to the parenting role. (Washington, 2009. Although these are factors that make a child more vulnerable to abuse, the child is a victim and should not be blamed for being physically abused. It is important that the child and parent have a healthy attachment bond and this bond should start at birth.