How to Protect Your
Children from Sexual Abuse during this Christmas Season
‘Strangers are not the
greatest danger to your children so parents protect your child from child
sexual abuse’
As
a parent, it's natural to worry about your kids. After all, you want to protect
them from the evils of the world. Chief among those evils is sexual abuse. But,
how can you talk to your kids about safety without scaring them to death? And
what's the best way to protect them from sexual predators?
We have seen
cases in which children
have been sexually
assaulted every day. From big, shocking, headline-making
scandals like the one fueled by Cynthia Osukogu’s painful demise to the one-off
incidents in which teachers, coaches, and other trusted adults take advantage
of innocent children. We gasp and are outraged, but most of all we worry what if that was
our child.
More importantly, however, we must ask what we can
do to lessen the odds that our children will be victims. While there are no
guarantees that we can we can keep them safe, there are some steps we can take
to help do so
The
festive season is a time of celebration and sharing of good times with family
and friends. There might be more parties, more friends and more family in your
home. You might be traveling and staying with people you do not see every day.
The down
side of this wonderful time of year is that the risk for child sexual abuse
increases. Children love the Christmas season. So do child predators. Many
parents relax their vigilance during the festive season, routines change and
children are allowed more freedom of movement. Add to this a greater exposure
to (sometimes) little known family and friends and adults who tend to consume
more alcohol and it makes for an ideal hunting ground for sexual predator
looking for child victims.
Statistics
say that up to 90 percent of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by family
members or family friends. How do you
protect your little ones during this time of greater risk, without spoiling
anybody’s festive fun?
The first step is to be aware of
the added danger. By being awake and watchful (you do not have to be paranoid)
you can often prevent bad things from happening. Keep an eye on your kids
during festivities. Know where they are and who they are with. Remember, just
because somebody is dressed as Santa, doesn’t mean he/she is safe! Talk
often with your child and set a tone of openness. Talking openly and directly
will let your child know that it’s okay to talk to you when they have
questions. If your child comes to you with concerns or questions, make time to
listen and talk to them.
Trust your
instincts when it comes to friends and family. If somebody makes you feel
uncomfortable in his/her actions or words towards children, do not let him/her
spend any time alone with the kids. The same goes for anybody with a reputation
for inappropriate behavior towards kids. Abusers almost never stop abusing kids
without help.
Remember older children can also
sexually abuse little ones. Keep an eye on teenagers who want to spend all of
their time with little kids. Most sexual abuse happens when there is one on one
contact between the abuser and the child. By limiting the time your child
spends with adults and older children to people you really trust, you can
decrease the risk of abuse.
Teach your child
key safety principles. For instance:
- Teach children the names of their body parts so that they have the language to ask questions and express concerns about those body parts.
- If your child is uncomfortable or if someone is touching them, s/he should tell a trusted adult immediately.
- Let your children know that if someone is touching them or talking to them in ways that make them uncomfortable that it shouldn’t stay a secret.
Limit
the amount of alcohol that is consumed when there are children around. Many
cases of child sexual abuse happen when the adults responsible for looking
after the children are drunk. Parties like that are not appropriate for
children.
Speak
to your kids about personal safety. This can be done in a way that is not
frightening to kids at all. Teach them to trust and develop their instincts by
not insisting that they kiss and hug adults that make them feel uncomfortable.
Speak up for them if you see somebody acting inappropriate. I know this can
sometimes cause offence, but people who value your child’s safety will understand.
Enjoy the festive season, but remember that kids cannot keep themselves safe.
That’s your job.
Empower-Your
child should know that s/he has the right to speak up if they are
uncomfortable, or if someone is touching them. It’s okay to say “no” even to
adults they know and family members. Monitor their social media friends but do
it with respect.Educate-Educate yourself about the warning signs of childhood sexual abuse. Know what to look for, and the best way to respond. Visit www.cornucopiaebooks.blogspot.com for more details or www.cornucopiaebooks.com/images/CSA.pdf
Facebook name - cornucopia ebooks
Have a Safe
Christmas Celebration
Chidinma
Stella Onuoha (Mrs.)
08066656255,
Case1609@yahoo.co.uk , cornucopiaebooks@gmail.com
Some other helpful
online literature:
http://www.kidscape.org.uk/assets/downloads/kskeepthemsafe.pdf
