Child Abuse Steps to Protect Your Children Grandchildren
Child Abuse - Steps to Protect Your Children, Grandchildren
More and more kids are "divorcing" their parents. An expert provides advice for rebuilding ties
Boomers have become the new family safety net
Straight-from-the-heart advice for parents and grandparents who want to do the right thing Prevention Educate yourself about sexual abuse. Understand the broad range of sexually abusive acts, including fondling, forcing a child to touch an adult's sexual organs, sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, forcing a child to pose for pornographic films or photos, indecent exposure or exhibitionism, exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse, masturbation or pornography. Sexual abuse may involve physical force, bribery or intimidation but may also be very subtle. Be aware. Know where your children and grandchildren are at all times. Do your homework about the location of sexual offenders in your community by visiting the . If there are known offenders near you, learn how to handle the situation at Stop It Now. Remember that child abusers and sex offenders can be anyone in our families or community — older siblings or cousins, extended family members or close family friends, male or female, and all races and socioeconomic levels. Also keep in mind that children of all ages can be victims of sexual abuse, even infants or strong teens. One commonality among sexual abuse cases is that victims quite often . Experts say abusers are most frequently adults our kids trust. Get to know the adults in their lives and observe the kids interacting with them. If you notice a child is uncomfortable or hesitant around an adult, it could be a red flag. Talk to the children about appropriate sexual behavior, and be specific. Make sure they know when to say "no" if someone wants to touch them improperly. Tell kids how to get help if someone is making them uncomfortable or scared, or is touching them in the wrong ways. Start these conversations at a very young age and repeat them often, using age-appropriate language and levels of detail. The more comfortable our children are talking about sexual issues in general, the more likely they will feel safe telling us about abuse. Signs of Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is usually uncovered when either a victim self-reports the abuse; someone witnesses the abuse or observes behavior that causes suspicion and investigation; or a child contracts a sexually transmitted disease or becomes pregnant. Keep in mind that the signs of abuse may vary according to a child's age. Look for: Behavioral changes, such as unusually excessive crying, fear of certain people or places, regression to behavior a child has previously outgrown (such as thumb-sucking, stranger anxiety, aggression or domineering behavior, refusal to cooperate), acting much older than they are, depression or withdrawal, nightmares, feelings of shame or guilt, excessive protective behavior for siblings, running away from home or having trouble in school. Health issues, such as vomiting, bowel problems, bed-wetting, sleep disturbances, , eating disorders, excessive washing, chronic headaches or stomachaches. Sexual issues. Sexual abusers often groom their victims through regular interaction and have a level of control over these children and youths that scares them so much they will not tell anyone. The most important thing we can do to protect the children we love is to be open and aware, listen and ensure they feel safe talking with us about sexual issues or reporting abuse. If you suspect a child in your family is being abused, get a medical and psychological evaluation for the child right away and report the abuse to the authorities. Also of interest:
Amy Goyer is AARP's family, parenting and grandparenting expert. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Protect Kids From Sexual Abuse
Recent scandals reinforce the importance of vigilance
Getty Images All adults can play a role in keeping our children safe. Sadly, child sexual abuse is in the news once again. In Washington, D.C., this week, a prominent swim coach took a leave of absence from his job after accusations surfaced that he'd had an with a teen swimmer nearly three decades ago. In Philadelphia, a Catholic monsignor was sentenced to three to six years in prison for his role in a pedophile scandal. Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, Penn State University is still reeling from the prolonged abuse of kids by football coach Jerry Sandusky. The headlines are reminding us how vulnerable kids can be. We teach them to trust and revere the adult leaders in their lives — family members, coaches, teachers, babysitters, clergy and other leaders in our community. But sometimes these trusted adults are the very people from whom we need to protect our children. All adults — including parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles — can play an important role in preventing and spotting the signs of in the children we love. Here are some key steps you can take and signs to look for. Keep in mind that family members should first consult with a child's parents before taking any action.Related
More and more kids are "divorcing" their parents. An expert provides advice for rebuilding ties
Boomers have become the new family safety net
Straight-from-the-heart advice for parents and grandparents who want to do the right thing Prevention Educate yourself about sexual abuse. Understand the broad range of sexually abusive acts, including fondling, forcing a child to touch an adult's sexual organs, sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, forcing a child to pose for pornographic films or photos, indecent exposure or exhibitionism, exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse, masturbation or pornography. Sexual abuse may involve physical force, bribery or intimidation but may also be very subtle. Be aware. Know where your children and grandchildren are at all times. Do your homework about the location of sexual offenders in your community by visiting the . If there are known offenders near you, learn how to handle the situation at Stop It Now. Remember that child abusers and sex offenders can be anyone in our families or community — older siblings or cousins, extended family members or close family friends, male or female, and all races and socioeconomic levels. Also keep in mind that children of all ages can be victims of sexual abuse, even infants or strong teens. One commonality among sexual abuse cases is that victims quite often . Experts say abusers are most frequently adults our kids trust. Get to know the adults in their lives and observe the kids interacting with them. If you notice a child is uncomfortable or hesitant around an adult, it could be a red flag. Talk to the children about appropriate sexual behavior, and be specific. Make sure they know when to say "no" if someone wants to touch them improperly. Tell kids how to get help if someone is making them uncomfortable or scared, or is touching them in the wrong ways. Start these conversations at a very young age and repeat them often, using age-appropriate language and levels of detail. The more comfortable our children are talking about sexual issues in general, the more likely they will feel safe telling us about abuse. Signs of Sexual Abuse Sexual abuse is usually uncovered when either a victim self-reports the abuse; someone witnesses the abuse or observes behavior that causes suspicion and investigation; or a child contracts a sexually transmitted disease or becomes pregnant. Keep in mind that the signs of abuse may vary according to a child's age. Look for: Behavioral changes, such as unusually excessive crying, fear of certain people or places, regression to behavior a child has previously outgrown (such as thumb-sucking, stranger anxiety, aggression or domineering behavior, refusal to cooperate), acting much older than they are, depression or withdrawal, nightmares, feelings of shame or guilt, excessive protective behavior for siblings, running away from home or having trouble in school. Health issues, such as vomiting, bowel problems, bed-wetting, sleep disturbances, , eating disorders, excessive washing, chronic headaches or stomachaches. Sexual issues. Sexual abusers often groom their victims through regular interaction and have a level of control over these children and youths that scares them so much they will not tell anyone. The most important thing we can do to protect the children we love is to be open and aware, listen and ensure they feel safe talking with us about sexual issues or reporting abuse. If you suspect a child in your family is being abused, get a medical and psychological evaluation for the child right away and report the abuse to the authorities. Also of interest:
Amy Goyer is AARP's family, parenting and grandparenting expert. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures