April
is child abuse prevention month the month set aside to try and end child abuse. 

Parents
have many responsibilities when educating their children about life. One of the
most important conversations to have with your child is a conversation about
body safety. What is body safety you ask? Body safety is teaching your children
that their body is their own and if anyone touches them in a way that makes
them feel uncomfortable you want to know as soon as possible. This one piece of
information can save your child from childhood sexual abuse and is key to abuse
prevention. I think parents overthink this topic, get scared, and then do not
say anything to their children. This is the worst thing a parent can do. The
best way to prevent child abuse is to talk about it before it happens not
after. 

The steps to prevent child abuse are easy. Know who is watching your
children, educate your child about body safety rules, respond quickly if your
child self discloses information that someone has harmed them. Most children
are harmed by “loved ones”, contrary to what the media feeds families’
children are usually harmed by people in their own family. This is one of the
downsides to talking about body safety because it can get very challenging real
fast. Meaning anyone is capable of this act. Most children are not harmed or
abducted by someone at a Walmart but by someone sitting around your dining room
table.  

Child
abuse is all about access. Make a mental list of who has access to your
children, who spends time with them alone when you are not there.  No one from Walmart is going to be on this
list.  93 % of children who are harmed
are harmed by someone they know. Children and Teens: Statistics | RAINN.  It is highly likely that the parent
introduced the child to their perpetrator, the parent left the child alone with
the perpetrator and falsely believed they would be okay. Anyone is capable of
this act. If you frequently leave your child alone with a close friend or
family member it is okay to say to them, “I have spoken to my children about
ways to prevent child abuse. 

In our family, child abuse is discussed and we
have an open dialogue. My children will be reporting to me if someone they know
is making them feel uncomfortable.” You don’t have to say this but it goes a
long way to aid in child sexual abuse prevention.   These family and friends are not on
America’s Most Wanted.  If you say this
to them most of them will respect the boundary you have set.  Remember if you say nothing, your children
will say nothing if something happens to them. 
They will take their cues from you so be sure you speak out on this
topic. 

Kids
of all ages instinctively know this is wrong. If you give them permission to
self-disclose, they usually will.  When
talking to children they will understand this information at a very young age.
I do not think 18 months is too young to begin this discussion with your
children. You want to be the first person to talk to your child about child
abuse, not the perpetrator. I say 18 months because my daughter was around 18
months when I got my first proof of my landmark children’s book Some Parts Are NOT for Sharing. I read it to
my daughter,  later we were carving
pumpkins she asked me, “Mom do pumpkins have private parts?” I thought I am
really onto something here. She gets this! Your child can get it as well.  

Parents struggle with how to prevent child
abuse, it is really very simple. Read my book to your children, have
conversations about people who are in a Caregiving role in their life, talk
about your family Relationships, and that it is okay to tell if anyone in our
family hurts you. Tell your children that you will not be angry but that you do
want to know as soon as possible. As your child grows their questions will
change, you will know when it is time to include more information than what was
in the book. Some
Parts are NOT for Sharing. 
This is a child abuse prevention book for children 0-9 years old. It is
also available in Spanish. To order discount copies visit: Home | Children’s Services Author Julie Federico
(square.site)

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.