Tidbit Tuesday: Prevent Child Abuse, Part 2

Parents need to make their children’s safety a #1 priority. To do that, here are a few safety tips:

• Talk to your children. Tell them to never walk alone, and to always have a buddy with them at school events or after-school practices. Tell them no matter what age they are, no one has the right to touch them inappropriately, or make them feel uncomfortable in any way. Let them know they can come to you with any problem.
• Check with your local police department to see if there are any sex offenders living near you or your child’s school. You can also do on-line searches for predators in your community.
• Check to see if your school district does criminal background checks on all employees, if not-demand that they do.
• Communicate with your child’s teachers, coaches and friends
• Have a secret family code word that must be known, if anyone but you or your spouse has to pick your child up from school.
• Do not put your child’s name on the outside of his or her clothing, backpacks or other items.
• Teach your child that it is OK to say no to an adult , if that adult’s request is something that may harm the child in any way.
• Don’t allow your child to spend the night anywhere that you do not know all the adults who will be in charge of your child’s safety.
• If possible, attend your child’s after-school practices, and other events when you can.
• Teach your child to tell someone they trust immediately, if someone harms them in any way.

These are just a few tips for parents. The most important thing you can do to keep your child safe from predators, is to communicate with them. Use age-appropriate language when you talk about sexual abuse. Though you may feel uncomfortable talking about this subject, doing so may save your child’s life.
http://child-abuse-recovery-journal.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html