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My children came home with notes to say they will be doing Child Protection classes at school. They are in year 1 and 2. Another mum, with a son in year 2, said the kids were too young for this sort of thing. I was horrified! I told her, they are
never too young! The younger the child, the more vulnerable they are to strangers as well as to people they know who may be abusers. This particular mum is a good mother and a great person but I think she is very naive about this sort of thing which made me wonder how many other parents are the same.
For starters, children need to be taught the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touching, and the younger the understand the better. I told this woman that you never know who might abuse your child. Abusers are usually friends or family members that noone would ever think would do such a thing. It's happened time and time again - someone a family trusts abuses that trust be sexually abusing a child in the family.
Then there's the 'stranger danger' thing. Kids need to be taught not to go strangers, no matter what they say. Children are snatched so quickly and easily. Even in busy stores. I was shopping with a friend and was astounded to see that she lets her kids run around within the store, out of sight, without a worry, she just continues looking at the merchandise. For goodness sakes! Don't people realise that it's kids who are allowed to wander who end up kidnapped? The friend I was with spent at least 1/2 an hour looking at clothes while her son hid amongst the clothing racks. It would have been so easy for someone to grab him and walk out of the store with him (I made sure I kept an eye on him and eventually pulled him out from the clothes). It is so naive to think it doesn't happen because it does!
There are other great articles in this site relating to Child Abuse - take the time to look them up and read them. To reinforce some of what I read not long ago, NEVER disregard a child's claims of abuse. It is highly unlikely for a child to lie about such a thing. Also take note of any change in behaviour of your child, especially if they spend a lot of time with another adult. Of course, most importantly, make sure your child understands what abuse is and that it is OK to tell. Most abused children are too afraid to tell someone so reassure them that they will not be in trouble, that they have not done anything wrong, and that the abuser cannot hurt them if they tell.
(November 2006) (
