PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM BECOMING A TARGET OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Child sexual abusers do not target children based on race, religion, or economic status. Any child can become a victim of child sexual abuse. Read the related story, Grooming By Sexual Abusers — A Guide To Help Protect Children to learn more about the grooming process.

Children are at highest risk of sexual abuse between the age of seven and thirteen years old.

One out of every ten children experiences sexual abuse before the age of eighteen.

Children and adults with disabilities are at high risk of sexual abuse.

Excessive touching of any kind is inappropriate.

Red flags to look out for to recognize dangerous people or situations.

Beware of anyone who hugs, kisses, or tickles your child excessively.

A relationship that seems too comfortable or casual is a red flag.

Abusers use seemingly-harmless touching to desensitize children to being touched.

Desensitizing games can include games in which they place money into their pockets where the child must reach in to get it. Abusers get sexual gratification from this, and it gets the child accustomed to touching them.

Abusers conceal their activities by obstructing the visibility of their actions and fondling children in plain sight.

For example, abusers may sit a child on their laps, throw a blanket over their laps, or call a child over to an isolated or hidden from view area to fondle them.

Abusers also desensitize children by talking about sex or exposing them to pornography.

Cell phone use and technology can be used by older youth or adults to expose children to pornography.

Be aware of your child’s use of technology and caution them against looking on to another’s activity.

Exposure to pornography can be an abuser’s way of purposely creating “complicity” to prevent a child from telling on them.

If a child believes they did something wrong, they are less likely to tell on them for fear that they will get in trouble for the behavior.

Be aware of children in social settings where alcohol and other drugs are present.

Abusers will take advantage of the decreased supervision and lax environment to abuse children.

Alcohol and other drugs can aide abusers by lowering their own and the child’s inhibitions.

Conversations with your children about sensitive topics such as this one, are the most effective tool you have to protect them.

Tell your child that it is okay, allowed, and appropriate to have boundaries.

Tell them no-one has a right to touch them on their “private parts” or any part of them for that matter.

Tell them they never have to hug anyone if they are not uncomfortable. A handshake, high five, or fist bump are great ways of saying hello or goodbye.

Discourage them from keeping secrets.

Don’t allow games among children that include anything with blindfolding and bondage of any kind.

Tell them never to reach into another person’s pocket.

Tell them that they can talk to you about anything and you will believe them, love them, and help them, no matter what the circumstances.

Establish strict boundaries to protect your children from becoming a target of abuse.

Read I Was Only Five Years Old for more on how to empower your children and give them the words.

Visit unbraidedlife.com for additional resources.

Source: California Mandated Reporter Training, Child Sexual Abuse and Neglect, Keenan, 2019