Families play an important role in
socializing children. Families are a structure where children learn survival
skills and learn how to solve problems. In caring for and nurturing your
children, there are a number of values you can instill, skills you can teach
and behaviors you can model as part of sexual abuse prevention.
Communication with your children about
sexual abuse and how to minimize the risk is the key to a healthy and safe
environment.
Parents did you know…
1 in 3
Girls will be sexual assaulted before they turn 18 years old.
1 in 6 Boys
will sexual assaulted before they turn 18 years old.
80% of perpetrators are known, liked and trusted by the children they assault.
Use This Information to Start the Conversation with Your Children...
·
Any contact with private parts is wrong. Make clear to your
child that no one is permitted to touch his or her private parts
(penis/vagina/anus/breasts), and they should not touch an adult's private
parts.
·
He/she
has the right to say no.
Your child should know that his/her body belongs to him/her and he/she has the
right to say no to anything that makes him/her feel uncomfortable.
·
Improper
touching is not the child's fault. Your child needs to know that if anyone touches their private
parts, or asks the child to touch theirs, it is not the child's fault.
· Sexual contact should not be kept as a secret.
If anyone touches your child sexually and/or makes them feel uncomfortable, tell
someone, there no are secrets when it comes to safety and well-being. Even if someone says “Let’s keep this our
secret”, or threatens to harm family, pets or love ones.
Children need to know the following:
- “Trust
your instincts”
- It’s not okay for an older
child or adult to make you keep a secret. If someone wants you to keep a
secret, always tell someone.
- Find a trusted adult and tell
and keep telling!
You can always tell the YWCA Greater Los Angeles
24-hour Hotline: 1 (877) Y-HELPS-U
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