Keeping Kids Safe

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Child Sexual Abuse Prevention:
The Stranger You Know

Children are cognitively, emotionally and physically helpless in protecting themselves from sexual abuse offenders. As a parent, it's your responsibility to educate your child about inappropriate adult behaviors and make sure he or she is not exposed to the circumstances a pedophile needs to sexually abuse a child.

If you think child sexual abuse isn't common, think again. One of every seven victims of sexual assault is under the age of 6, and, on average, a pedophile molests 117 children, most of whom do not report the offense. Furthermore, the sexual abuser is usually someone the child and his or her family knows. Between 84 and 95 percent of sexually abused children personally know their molester.

Take five minutes to ask yourself whether you have taken these precautions to protect your child. If you haven't, make it a priority to educate your child and become more involved in his or her life.

• Take responsibility for protecting children from sexual abuse.
• Teach children when it is appropriate to hug, shake hands and wave.
• Discuss with your children how adults are not always right.
• Monitor and supervise your child's activities, including his Internet access.
• Whenever possible, be present at your child's activities to show the potential offender you are actively involved in her life.
• Know your child's friends and their parents.
• Choose caregivers, such as daycare providers and babysitters, carefully.
• Get to know the coaches, teachers, Girl Scout/Boy Scout troop leaders, etc. spending time with your child.
• Explain to children that what appears to be a good touch (tickling, wrestling or lap-sitting) could be a bad touch.
• Teach children about modesty, including dressing in the bedroom and privacy in the bathroom. Children who understand these boundaries will realize when someone intrudes on their personal space.
• Use the correct name for body parts when speaking with children.
• Attend a free class offered through The Stranger You Know: A Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program. Call the Child Development Infoline at (800) 505-7000 to learn about classes offered in your community.

For more information on preventing child sexual abuse, or for connections to support in your community, call the Child Development Infoline at (800) 505-7000.

For provider information please click here.