It is common for parents to instruct their children on keeping themselves safe. When crossing the street, make sure you look both ways. Wear your seatbelts. Playing with matches is a horrible idea. However, specific topics are more difficult to discuss than others, such as sexual assault. Many parents avoid talking about inappropriate touching with their children. Indeed, you can’t completely exclude the possibility that someone may sexually molest your kid.
Inappropriate Touching: How can you protect your children
As a social worker, I’ve dealt with children who have been victims of sexual assault during playdates, sleepovers, at school, on the playground, and on the school bus. Let’s take you back down the cliff now that I’ve frightened the living daylights. We must allow our children to engage with others outside of the home. We can, however, provide them with the information that may prevent them from being harmed.
Parents frequently fail to raise the issue of physical safety with their children at the appropriate time. They don’t think kids are old enough yet; it’s too traumatic. It doesn’t have to be a difficult conversation to begin with. Help protect your child from inappropriate touching with these five tips.
Teach children that certain portions of the body are not for public display.
Tell your youngster that their private parts are referred to as “private” because they are not meant to be seen by others. People outside the house should only see them in their clothing, not their underwear. Explain to the children how their doctor may visit them without their clothing since they are with their parents and the doctor is examining their bodies.
Explain that keeping secrets about one’s body is not acceptable.
In most cases, abusers tell the victim’s kid to keep the abuse a secret. For example, “I enjoy playing with you, but if you tell anybody else what we played, they won’t allow me to come over again.” As a warning: “This is our little secret. Telling anybody will land you severe problems since I will say it was your idea. You should always make sure your children know that keeping a body hidden is not correct, no matter what anybody tells them.
Use the correct terminology for bodily parts.
Some parents don’t utilize the proper terminology while discussing anatomy with their children and instead use nicknames. However, you must use the correct language, just like with elbows, feet, and ears. Kids may pick up on their parents’ embarrassment when discussing particular aspects of their bodies, believing they should feel the same way.
Tell your children that you will never punish them for disclosing a private part of their body to you.
In my experience, children frequently tell me that they didn’t speak out of fear that they, too, would be in trouble. In many cases, the offender uses this dread as a weapon. It would help if you always reassured your kid regarding physical safety and secrets by telling them that you will never punish them for speaking to you about them, no matter what occurs.
If your children are afraid or need to be picked up, they should be able to use a secret code phrase that you know.
You may give code words to youngsters as they age so they know what to do if they feel uncomfortable. This may be utilized as an alternative to a traditional sleeping bag during a play date or a sleepover with family or friends.
Protect your Children from Inappropriate Touching
While these tips cannot wholly prevent situations, they equip your child with the knowledge of right and wrong. Your children will know when to talk to you about concerning behavior and know that you will provide a safe place to speak.