Family Talk

It's time to have a family talk about sexual abuse. But before you sit down and talk with your kids, what do you plan to say? Are you and your spouse / parenting partner on the same page? As with most things in the parenting world, consistency among the parents is a must. At times this can be hard, for instance in the case of religion, diet, etc. However, as parents, you must present a "united front" when approaching this sensitive topic.

 

To help guide you in the right direction, answer the following questions with your spouse or parenting partner.

 

1. What is your goal in speaking with our child? (Do you want to introduce the topic of sexual abuse? Do you want to find out what your child knows/thinks about sexual abuse? Do you want to provide your child with tips for avoiding sexual abuse?)

 

2. Should our child talk to anyone else, other than his parents, if he is sexually abused?

 

3. What exactly is sexual abuse? How would my child recognize sexual abuse?

 

For more tips on speaking with your child, visit our site, http://www.protectingchildhood.org. We provide age-appropriate tips to assist you with talking with your child about sexual abuse.

Molester among dozens of sex offenders arrested | ajc.com

Molester among dozens of sex offenders arrested | ajc.com

It takes a village... or does it?

   We’ve all heard the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child”. It’s a great saying, but it points to something that all parents should consider. Who are the people that assist in the development of your child, such as teachers, coaches, religious leaders, and other adults who have an influence over your children. These adults, friends and relatives, comprise your child’s Circle of Influence. 

    Take the time to evaluate your child’s Circle of Influence by answering the following questions:

1. 1.Who is this person, what function does she serve in my child’s life?
2. 2.Does this person spend time with my child without my supervision?
3. 3.Does this person spend time with my child without an adult’s supervision?
4. 4.To what extent does my child trust this person?
5. 5.Does my child feel safe around this person?
6. 6.Would this person harm my child?
7. 7.Would my child tell me if this person has harmed them?
8. 8.What can I do to make sure my child’s relationship with this person is safe, healthy, and positive?

    

    The goal is to make sure you are actively engaged in your child’s relationships. A major part of protecting your child is being active and alert. Review your child’s Circle of Influence periodically. If you feel concerned about a relationship, take the time to talk to your child about their experiences with this person.

    As always, remind your child that you are his greatest protector. If he feels he is in harm or questions something someone has said or done to him, make sure he knows to trust you with this information.

10 Reasons NOT to talk to your child about sexual abuse

1. 1.You're not concerned about the health and welfare of your child.

2. Your child can fend for himself.

3. Your child would never talk to a pedophile.

4. No one that you know would ever hurt a child, especially yours.

5. If anyone approached your child, your child would know how to protect herself.

6. The statistics are wrong, there's no way that 1 out of every 4 children will experience some form of sexual abuse by age 18.

7. You're not comfortable talking about this topic.

8. Your child isn't interested in this topic.

9. Your child is too young to understand sexual abuse.

10. You just don't have time.

You can come up with as many excuses as you want, but a predator just needs one opportunity to take advantage of your child. Ending the childhood sexual abuse begins with you. Do your part, now.