Preventing
Child Sexual Abuse
What A Parent can do:
- Recognize your child's right to say no to physical attention.
Respect that right, be alert to the child;s discomfort and intervene
when necessary. Even very small children sh ould not have to enure
hugging, tossing, and patting they do not like. If they learn
to ignore their feelings because expressing them makes no difference,
children lose a valuable tool for protecting themselves.
- Notice when other harass or take advantage of your child.
Whether this is coming from adults or other children, your child
needs to know how to respond appropriately.
- Take what your child says seriously. Be available.
Help your child figure out what to do in uncomfortable situations.
- Express dissaproval or inappropriate behavior in others.
Do not justify the behavior of teachers, ministers,or grandparents
for example, just because of who they are. When you do , the child
will not only distrust th em, but also may distrust you.
- Refuse to leave children with people you do not trust.
Pay attention to warning signs, including your ow n intutive hunces
about what is a secure, safe enviroment. Abusers frequently are
nice peple from nice families.
- If you suspect your child has experienced abuse or you
are noticing changes in your child's behavior, seek help from
amental heatlh professional.
What Every Child Should know...:
- There s a difference between good, badn and confusing
touch. Know how to tell the diffenence. Parents should
know that pre-school children don't always understand the concepts
of good touch or bad touch. Studies show that young children can
understand feeling connected with extreme experiences such as
being hit "bad" versus being hugged "good".
Young children are often confused by situations that fall between
the two extemes. Most sexual abuse involves gentle fondling and
is accomp;anied by gentle caring words. Very yound children may
have difficulty preceiving this as :bad" touch.
- It is alright to say no. Trust your feelings
of discomfort, no matter who the person is. Say no to unwanted
hugs, pats on your buttocks, a nd touching that confuses or bother
you. Alternatives include running away, removing the person's
hand, and yelling "stop".
- There are no secrets. It is wrong someone to
ask you not to tell your parents. It is wrong to trap you into
beaking a rule and then threaten to tell if you don't cooperate.
It is not right for someone to give you a gift and then expect
someting from you.
- You should refuse a request if it: feels weird;
will seperate you from other children; goes ag ainst family rules,
involves a secret; or seems like an unearned special favor.
Credits: Center for Child and Family Services, Inc.
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