China Daily 2014 photostories: Trials of childhood

Xiao Bao's head got burnt by his father with boiling water and fire and is wrapped in gauze. The father, Luo Chaojiang, an alcoholic and a drug addict, repeatedly beats his children. Child abuse can take the form of negligence, physical violence or sexual harassment. The first half of this year alone has seen more than 100 child abuse cases reported in media. Zhao Caiyan, with Loudi Intermediate People's Court in Hunan province, said there are mainly three factors leading to child abuse. Some parents consider their child a burden if it suffers from a physical handicap. Parents who struggle to make ends meet are more likely to shift their anger on to their children. Plus, there are some parents who still think that physical beating will discipline their child.[Photo/qq.com] Read More: Many faces of child abuse