How to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse

A parent's worst nightmare comes true when they hear that their little boy or girl has been sexually abused. No one wants to imagine the pain and trauma that the children and parents feel if this happens to them. So many choose to block it out of their minds and hope it will not happen to their family. But the sad truth is, it could happen to anyone. Sexual predators can prey on any child and the next child may be yours. There are some steps that parents can take to help protect their children from the horror of sexual abuse.

How to protect your children from sexual abuse #1 Talk to your children about sex

Waiting until your child is a teenager to talk about sex is not the right time to start. No one said it would be easy to talk about sex, but this is necessary to help protect children. I did not start learning about sex education in school until I was about 10 years old. In this day and age, that is not soon enough. Children much younger than 10 are sexually abused and raped on a staggering scale every day. Find appropriate times to sit down with your child and talk on a basic level at first about sex. Start off by showing your child a biology book with parts of a boy and girl's body and point to each body part. Identify what the different body parts are and what they are used for. Let them know that some body parts are private, meaning they should not allow anyone to touch or see them. Let them know that if anyone tries to have sex with them, that this is wrong. It is rape and they should scream, run away and tell someone, if that is possible. Some parents feel that sex education will rob their children of their innocence if they start too early. That is not so. Look at the alternative. If someone sexually abuses your child, will their innocence remain intact? No. It will scar them for life and will probably stifle any future sexual relationship that they try to establish.

How to protect your children from sexual abuse #2 Dress children appropriately

I am shocked to see the way that some very young children are dressed for school. I have seen girls very young girls in mini skirts and other provocative clothes. When did children stop being children? Some parents try to dress up their children in clothes that are beyond their years. Children are not miniature adults. They should be dressed in age appropriate clothes that do not put their children at risk. Sexual predators can be attracted to children who are made to look older than they really are and can be easily targeted. It is not nice to say, but parents are not helping their children by dressing them this way. Sexual predators may be attracted to children when they see children dressed provocatively. So it is best to be selective when choosing your children's clothes.

How to protect your children from sexual abuse #3 Give your child a whistle

Children can use a whistle to signal their need for help if a sexual predator comes their way. A child snatched after school can easily be passed off as the child of a person who actually seeks to harm them. Have you ever seen a child kicking and screaming in the company of an adult? Did you ever stop to wonder whether that was really the mother or father of the child? It is a scary thought. But this does happen. If a child has a whistle, they can blow it and summon help. It may not prevent the abduction, but it may just deter the sexual predator from sexually abusing the child.

How to protect your children from sexual abuse #4 Review the steps to take if your child is approached by a stranger

We have all heard of the stranger who pulls up in their car and offer unsuspecting children some goodies if they just get into the car. We also know that we should not talk to strangers. The same should be taught to your children. They should clearly know what to do if a stranger approaches them. They must not accept anything from them, even if it is a drink or chocolate bar. They must also refuse a lift or anything else that a stranger may offer them. Children who are approached by strangers should report the incident to a teacher, and their parents, especially if a stranger starts to loiter around the school. There may be a perfectly rational explanation. But it is worth pursuing, just to be on the safe side.

These suggestions can help parents to become more informed about the need to protect their children from sexual abuse. Children can do a lot to protect themselves too, if they are aware of what is going on in the world around them and the fact that not all strangers are trustworthy. Sadly, it will not prevent all abuse from taking place. If you suspect your child has been the victim of sexual abuse, it is wise to act quickly. Encourage them to go with you to the police station as quickly as possible. A medical examination can be performed and DNA samples collected that may help trace the perpetrator. Sexual abuse is a horrible reality. But burying your head in the sand will not help prevent it. Knowledge will.