Protect and Teach

Steps to Protect Your Children:

MAKE TIME for your children, read to them, play with them, talk to them.
HUG YOUR CHILDREN but NEVER force them to hug or kiss you or anyone else.
Tell them you LOVE them OFTEN.
SHOW them THEY are important to you.
LISTEN to them.
BE INVOLVED with your children’s friends. Know who they play with, what they like to do, where they play, who’s around when they are playing.
BE INVOLVED in school and after school activities. Know the adults responsible for organizing these activities.
CHECK-IN, unannounced, on sitters and other adults involved with your kids.
KEEP AN EYE ON INTERNET ACTIVITY. The Internet is a DANGEROUS PLACE. Children are easily lured by strangers on the net.
PAY ATTENTION to changes in behavior – it’s an easy way for children to signal that something isn’t right.
DON’T ASSUME your children are fine. Ask them OFTEN and LISTEN.

The difference between safe and unsafe touches.
Sexual abusers can be women or men, boys or girls.
Sexual abuse can be touching or non-touching.
Sexual abuse does not have to hurt.
Sexual abusers trick and force children into sexual activity.
Sexual abusers say lots of things to silence children.
The proper names for all body parts, so kids will be able to communicate clearly.
Their bodies belong to them and nobody has the right to touch them or hurt them - EVER.
Safety rules apply to all adults and children, not just strangers.
It’s okay to say “no” to requests that make them feel uncomfortable.
A safety plan they can easily follow.
To report to you if anyone asks them to keep a secret.
You will believe and protect them if they tell you about abuse.
They are not bad or to blame for sexual abuse.
Sexual abuse is NEVER the child’s fault.