It’s estimated that 1 million children are abused every year. Many abuse victims suffer from sexual abuse. Deb Schneider is the executive director of the Children’s Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services (CHIPS) Center at Children’s of Alabama. She says even though it’s a difficult subject, it’s important parents teach children that their bodies are “private property.”
“Parents should be having an ongoing conversation with their kids. This is not a one-time thing,” Schneider says. “It’s good to look for teachable moments, like when you see a private property sign, or during bath time, or when you see an Amber Alert.”
Schneider says often when people try to entice children, they trick them with what she calls bait. “They use things like toys, candy or money,” she says. “They also will try to keep them from telling about the abuse. They may threaten to harm them or someone they love if they tell.”
She advises parents to educate children to understand what “bait” may look like and how to seek help if they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
Children should understand the “I Can Plan.”
Teach Children the “I Can Plan:”
- Try to say NO
- Try to Get Away
- Tell Someone
- It’s Not Your Fault
If a child reports a suspected incident of sexual abuse, Schneider advises parents to stay calm, thank the child for telling, assure the child you will get help and contact the authorities, whether it’s the local police or Department of Human Resources.
Schneider says hard as it may seem to stay calm, it’s very important to not frighten the child and not ask too many questions so the child will continue to share when asked by authorities. Authorities are trained to conduct interviews with children to help prosecute an abuser.
The CHIPS Center has abuse prevention resources available. For more information, 205- 638-2751 or go to childrensal.org/CHIPS.
