Prevention Starts at Home.

1: Do not teach them to keep secrets. (ex: "Don't tell dad we went out for ice cream")
2: Teach them appropriate names for their body parts
3: Allow them to say no, if they do not want to kiss uncle Bob don't make them
4: Help them understand good and bad touches
5: Teach them to be their own person
6: Respect and honor your child's differences
7: Empower your child by trusting and listening
8: Talk to your child everyday about concerns
9: Teach them that their body belongs to them and they have the right to say no to anyone that might want to touch it
10: Explain to them that adults sometimes do things that they should not and when they do, they tell kids to keep it a secret and even threaten them, when an adult does this they are doing something wrong and the child needs to tell someone

Response Tips.

1: Believe the child
2: Tell the child you are proud of them for telling
3: If a child discloses to you, ask only open ended questions such has “tell me more”
4: Indicate your willingness and ability to help
5: Provide support, protection and reassurance
6: Encourage talking: do not attempt to take the feelings away from the child or say that her/his feelings are different than they are
7: If the child becomes progressively upset while talking about the subject, you may steer the conversation into some other areas
8: Inquire gently and in a matter of fact way - avoid overwhelming the child with your own anxiety
9: Observe non-verbal clues and behavior closely
10: Let the child express things in their own way using their own words
11: Having the child produce drawings can also be helpful
12: Don't go into long explanations if your child starts asking questions, be aware that they are probably seeking reassurance and support