Posted On:
May 7, 2007
15 Ways to Protect your Child from Sexual Abuse
- Listen to your child and believe what they tell you. When your child tells you he or she doesn't want to be with someone, pay attention!
- Participate in your child's activities and get to know your children's friends and their parents.
- Get to know the people where children gather in a community like Churches and sports facilities.
- Never leave your child unattended, especially in the car.
- Be open when your child asks questions about sex. Make sure the answers age appropriate. Be alert for any talk that shows premature sexual understanding.
- Pay attention to changes in your child's behavior or attitude.
- Pay attention when someone shows what seems to be greater than normal interest in your child.
- Make unannounced visits to your child's babysitter, day care or school. Make certain they will release your child only to you or someone you officially designate.
- Check to see if your child's school includes sex-abuse prevention training.
- Let your child express affection on their own terms. Do not insist that your child hug or kiss people.
- Pay attention when an adult uses social occasions to focus on befriending your child or taking your child away for private time that seems out of the ordinary.
- Do not allow your child to go alone on vacation, drive around or spend the night with anyone that has not proven to be trustworthy.
- Do not assume that a person is trustworthy because of their position, title or because they work in a place where children gather.
- Trust your instincts.
- Pay attention!
