It's never too early to start education your children about the dangers of sexual abuse. There are a few important points that need to be addressed with the child.
First, make certain they understand any form of abuse is never their fault. Grown ups know better than to touch children inappropriately. Children must never be allowed to believe the abuse is their fault. They need to know the responsibility lies squarely on the adult.
Sexual abuse isn't limited to just grown ups. Sometimes children can be the abusers, touching their friends in inappropriate ways. If anyone, regardless of age, touches your child in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, he or she must tell someone immediately.
It's vital to stress the importance of telling an adult whenever inappropriate touching occurs. Your child should know that if anyone ever makes them feel bad in any way, including making them feel sad, scared, uncomfortable, gross, worried, surprised, shocked, nervous, or nauseated, they need to tell an adult immediately.
Along those same lines, make sure your child has the confidence to keep telling adults until someone helps them. The first adult they tell may not believe them. They need to keep telling someone until their concerns are addressed. Many children can be scared to tell anyone about what happened, so they need to know that it's the right thing to do. They need to know they'll always have your love and support no matter what happens.
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