A few months ago, I spoke at an event on the principles of emotional safety, where a representative from the National Organization of Victim’s Assistance (NOVA) happened to be in attendance. Since then, we’ve been working together on a few projects and becoming good friends.
The mission of NOVA is to champion dignity and compassion for those harmed by crime or crisis. They work quite frequently on behalf of abuse victims.
One evening, my friend and I were carpooling back to our hotel from an event and I asked him a personal question.
“As a dad,” I began, “how can I best protect my kids from sexual abuse?”
Here are seven answers he gave me.
1. Have surprises but don’t keep secrets. We don’t keep secrets in our house. We only have surprises. Think about it, secrets are never told. Surprises are always revealed. If I take our kids to get their mommy a birthday present, we’re not keeping it a secret from her; we’re getting her a surprise that will be revealed on her birthday.
Most child predators tell children that the acts are to be kept a secret between the two of them. If secrets are not allowed in your family, it’s unlikely for your child to buy in to someone asking them to keep something secret.
2. Over 90% of perpetrators are people we love and trust. Aunts. Uncles. Stepmoms. Stepdads. Grandparents. Moms. Dads. Coaches. Teachers. Pastors. Family friends. Be vigilant of who your children are spending time with—or who wants to spend time with them.
3. Trust your child’s instincts. If your child is skittish towards a relative or friend, don’t push or force him to like and trust that person. Too often we assume that since we trust that individual, our child should too. Allow trust to happen naturally over time and under your supervision. There could be a legitimate reason for your child’s apprehension of an individual. Don’t force it.
4. Use the appropriate names for private parts. It’s not a “willy,” a “pee-pee,” or a “dingy.” Teach your son he has a penis. The same is true for our daughters. Calling a vagina by its proper name is important because sexual predators often use “cutesy” names to lure children. They need to learn the appropriate terms. If your children know the names of their private parts, they can more accurately, and with no confusion, tell you if it hurts or if someone touched that area inappropriately.
5. Teach them the appropriate situations for private parts to be seen. Just as they need to be told the appropriate ways to speak to others, use a fork, or share toys, our kids need to learn the appropriate situations for private parts to be seen and touched by others. For the most part, this shouldn’t go beyond bath time at home with mom or dad or an examination at the doctor’s office.
6. If your children ask questions, answer them. Don’t ignore or deflect questions they have about their penis or vagina. Our children are curious about everything, including their body parts. Ignoring their questions or concerns will only increase their curiosity and, at worst, lead to feelings of shame about their body, as if it’s something they shouldn’t discuss. Age-appropriately, answer their questions. Knowledge is power.
7. They don’t have to hug and kiss everybody. There’s always the overzealous aunt or grandma in the family who wants to pinch cheeks and plaster lipstick all over our children. Many times we comply and force our poor kids to do this. If your child doesn’t want to give hugs and kisses to family members, neighbors, or friends, respect that boundary and don’t force them. Lord knows, you probably don’t want to hug and kiss them either.
Tanya says
So true – I went raving mad. Granny was teaching my son to keep secrets. She promised not to tell me he was naughty at school. I wasn’t upset about being let out – I was upset about the consequences of keeping secrets. Because grown ups teach children to not tell when they doing something ‘wrong’. Wrong can mean many things to a child!!!
Lizett Garcia says
Thank you. I’ve tried telling my almost 4 year old about strangers and I’ve scared him too much because I made him cry twice. I just want him to be aware. The thing that got me was #2. I am constantly telling him about strangers, but I’m gonna have to talk to him about people we know a little more too. Thank you.
lizigarcia.com
Toniko says
The one I really never “get” is the private parts “proper” names… for lots of reasons
1) I don’t want my child saying those words in public.
2) I can easily tell if they are trying to tell me their privates hurt by saying “can you show me where it hurts?” where a swim suit covers is for cleaning and dr check ups has always been what I was taught growing up and I think it’s sufficient for those under 9/10
3) she most likely is Not referencing her vagina(aka birth canal) but her vulva or labia so how is this “accurate” to call it the wrong thing?
4) do you tell them words like butt, toushy, bottom, tummy, belly, if so why is pee-pee so bad? Technically we do not use medical terms for most of our body parts.
Just saying; as a family it is OK to chose against this one IMO.
Bill says
May I suggest an eighth one? Communicate and know what’s going on with your children. Do it in such a way that they feel you’re (at least a little) a bit nosy. They’ll complain a bit about the ‘nosy’ part, but deep down, if you’re doing it the right way, they’ll actually feel comforted and know that you really care about them.
I was raped by an older male student at a boarding school run by my church as a Sophomore. I told the school authorities the next day, and the student was sent home immediately. But my parents weren’t told, the police weren’t told, and nothing was ever said to me about it. I carried this event and the price it cost me for 30 years. Thanks be to God! for healing and mind renewal. His grace IS sufficient!
Bill says
May I suggest an eighth one? Communicate with your children and know what’s going on in their lives. Be (at least a little) a bit ‘nosy’. They’ll complain a bit about the ‘nosy’ part, but if you do it right they’ll actually feel comforted and know that you really care about them.
I was raped by an older male student at a boarding school run by my church when I was a sophomore. I told the school authorities the next day and the student was sent home immediately. But my parents weren’t told, the police weren’t told, and nothing was said to me ever again. I dealt with this event and the trauma it brought into my life for 30 years.
Thanks be to God! for healing and renewal of my mind. His grace IS absolutely sufficient!
Joshua Straub says
I am so sorry for the pain you endured. Thank you for your added 8th. I couldn’t agree with you more!