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Full
Member,
National Children's Alliance |
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Full
Member,
Children's Advocacy Centers of GA |
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PREVENTING SEXUAL ABUSE |
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As parents and concerned adults, we want to do everything in our power to
ensure the safety and innocence of our children.
Sometimes protecting children is not always possible: we can't foresee every
danger or difficult situation with which our kids will be faced. All we can do
is our best - and our best means talking to kids about tough issues. |
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Here are some suggestions for preventing victimization
of children: |
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1. |
Teach kids the correct names of body parts. This
will help them communicate more clearly with trusted adults about touching
problems. |
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2. |
Children should be taught not to let older people
kiss them, hold them, touch them, or make them touch others in ways that make
the youngster feel uncomfortable. Cautioning children, "Don't let anyone touch
you," is simply not adequate. They need concrete suggestions, and role-playing
("what would you do if..?") can be helpful. And as children get older, they need
increasingly detailed information. |
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3. |
Teach children to report any touch, action, or
talk that feels uncomfortable - no matter who the source is, or how close the
relationship. This applies to all kinds of touch, including hitting and
bullying. It is important to teach youngsters to be wary of strangers, BUT: the
vast majority of victims are molested by adults or older kids whom they know,
trust, and - in many cases - love. |
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Kids should be taught never to keep bad secrets.
These are often secrets that will get grown-ups or older kids in trouble if they
are discovered or told. Bad secrets might involve stealing, lying, breaking
rules - or inappropriate sexual touching. Good secrets are usually surprises,
like presents or parties, which will make other people happy when they become
known. |
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Make sure children know which adults can be
trusted and to whom they should go if they have questions or concerns (for
example, parents, teachers, school counselors, police). And make sure kids know
that telling bad secrets is NOT the same as tattling. |
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6. |
Let your children know that they are loved
unconditionally. No matter what they do or what is done to them, they need to
know that you will love them just the same. You know that, but they need to HEAR
it - and OFTEN. Many kids don't tell about sexual abuse because they're afraid
that family members will think them bad or unlovable because they "let" the
abuse happen. |
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If your child discloses abuse, believe him or her
and immediately report the abuse to the police or your local Department of
Family and Children Services. Then get help for your child and for yourself. |
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Call the advocacy
center at (912) 236-1401 if you have questions, need someone to talk to, or to
schedule a speaker for your class or community group. |
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Support The Savannah CCAC |
Help contribute to Savannah's CCAC by sending
donations to the address above, or email us at
Donations@CCAC-
Savannah.org
for more information. |
If you suspect that a child
is being abused, report your suspicions to
Lifeline for Children:
(912) 651-2110
or to the
Savannah Police Department:
(912) 232-4141. |
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