For Sexual Abuse

• Talk to kids about their personal safety, not just once, but initiate ongoing age-appropriate conversations. Most importantly, teach kids not to keep secrets and to report unwelcome touching or sexual behavior to a trusted adult. Open communication with kids is a protective factor for children and a deterrent to perpetrators.
  
  
• Know everything you can about the people who care for your children. Monitor who interacts with your child. Ask your child questions about what he/she does when with a babysitter, at a friend’s house, etc.
  
  
• Select activities for children through organizations that carefully screen their staff and volunteers who work with kids. Work with those organizations to implement policies and procedures that discourage one-on-one isolated interactions between children and adults.
  
  
• Monitor children’s computer use, especially that of teenagers. Keep computers in a public area of the house. Discourage children from posting personal information or photos online. Teach children to end any online communication with an unknown person that asks for identifying information or is sexual in nature.
  
  
• Use “What If” situations with younger children to explore safety issues and help identify appropriate safety strategies. “What if you become lost in the store?” “What if you are at a friend’s house and feel uncomfortable?” Create a family plan before the situation arises, so children know their action plan and how to get help.
  
  
• If a child tells you about abuse, listen. Believe. Children rarely lie about abuse. Reassure the child it’s not his/her fault. Report the abuse to the authorities. Secure mental health and medical services to help the child heal.

Tips to Foster Nurturing Families

• Educate yourself about normal child development. Caretaking can become frustrating if an adult has unreasonable expectations about a child’s behavior.
  
  
• Learn and utilize effective discipline strategies that help children develop their own self-control. Do not use hitting, whipping, etc. which are linked to increased aggression and antisocial behavior. The goal of discipline is to teach appropriate behavior, not just “punish” wrongdoing.
  
  
• Practice self-care. Parents and caretakers need to attend to themselves to handle the many stressors life can bring. Whether through relaxation, pursuit of a personal interest or using creative energy, adults who nourish themselves are better equipped to handle the many challenges of parenthood.
  
  
• Ask for help. It’s okay to ask for help if you need a break, need advice or need assistance such as financial, safe shelter, food, healthcare, etc. Your local children’s advocacy center can help identify community agencies that provide such assistance.