Definition of Abuse, physical child

Abuse, physical child: Next to child neglect, physical
abuse is the second most frequently reported form of child abuse,
accounting for 25% of all cases of child abuse.

Physical child abuse is physical injury inflicted upon the child
with cruel and/or malicious intent. Physical abuse can be the result
of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, or otherwise
harming a child physically.

The parent or caretaker who abused the child may not have intended
to hurt the child, but rather the child's injury may have resulted
from overly harsh discipline or physical punishment. There is, in
this regard, a substantial debate going on about certain forms
physical discipline such as spanking and slapping and their
relationship to more orthodox forms of physical abuse.