Art and Discussion
Parent education and child abuse
Start the conversation with your children about safety and the warning signs of abuse before they are sitting you down to tell you something horrible about what they experienced. I wish the reality was not what it is about the incidents of abuse and how none of are children are immune to predators.
Keep talking
Take the risk with your kids despite your discomfort. Tell them, you are uncomfortable, but that you know it is a very important conversation to have. Remind them that you are there for them no matter what, no matter when and that you will always be on their side no matter what. This is a conversation that does not have a beginning and end, it is ongoing, always open for clarification and quesitons.
Not too young to be safe
Children will learn about boundaries as toddlers through your modeling. If someone comes up to your child and pinches their cheeks, you could ask them to please not touch your child. That is fair. WE don’t go around pinching cheeks of teenagers and adults. Small examples like that are showing your child that they get to decide who can hug them, pinch them and tickle them.
Never too old to be safe
Reminders to your high schoolers and college age students can be a signal to them that the conversation is not over and that you are still here, should they need you. No one person is guaranteed safety, why not teach your kids how to protect themselves, advocate for themselves and stand up for themselves.
