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Understanding Sexual Behavior in Kids

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  • Recognizing Warning Signs
    • Definitions of Child Sexual Abuse
      • Defining Child Sexual Abuse
      • Touching Behaviors
      • Non Physical Contact Behaviors
      • Clearing Up Common Misunderstandings
      • Defining Child Pornography
    • How Abuse Happens
      • Why Would an Adult Abuse a Child?
      • What Puts Someone At-Risk to Sexually Abuse Children?
      • Sometimes Disturbing or Intrusive Thoughts about Children Come First
      • How People Use the Internet to Sexually Exploit Children and Teens
    • Understanding Sexual Behavior in Kids
      • What is Age-Appropriate?
      • How to Recognize Concerning Behavior Between Children
    • Warning Signs in Adults and Children
      • Warning Signs in Children (Behavioral and Physical)
      • Signs an Adult May Be At-Risk to Harm a Child
      • Behaviors to Watch Out for When Adults are with Children
      • How Can I Tell if My Child Has Been Sexually Abused?
      • Warning Signs a Young Person May Be a Target of Online Sexual Abuse
      • Warning Signs of Someone's Dangerous or Illegal Online Activity
  • Prevention and Safety
    • Keys to Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children
      • What You Can Do Before a Child is Harmed
      • Talking to Kids about Preventing Sexual Abuse
      • Why Sexuality Education is an Important Part of a Safety Plan
      • Ten Things to Remember When You Talk to Kids about Sexuality
      • Understanding What Makes Kids Vulnerable to Being Sexually Abused
    • Creating a Plan for Safety
      • Preparing for Internet Safety
      • Helping an Adult Stay Safe from Offending
      • What Teachers and Child Care Providers Can Do to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
      • Safety Planning within Faith-Based Communities
    • Considering Filing Reports
      • What if I Am Not Sure?
      • When to File and Who to Call
      • The Mandated Reporter's Decision to File
      • I'm Afraid About What Could Happen if I File a Report
      • How Might a Report Impact the Child, the Person who has Abused, and the Whole Family?
  • Talking About It
    • Finding the Courage to Speak Up
      • What Keeps Us from Talking about Sexual Abuse
      • Overcoming Practical Concerns that Keep Us from Speaking Up
      • How to Prepare for a Complex Conversation
      • For Survivors Worried about the Safety of Others
    • Speaking to Someone with a Sexual Behavior Problem
      • Talking with an Adult Who May be at Risk to Abuse
    • When a Child Tells About Sexual Abuse
      • How Should I Respond to the Child?
      • What Should I Do After A Child Tells?
      • How Can I Better Understand What My Child is Going Through?
      • Possible Reactions of Non-offending Parents and Caring Adults
      • Is the Child Telling Me the Truth?
  • Recovery and Therapy
    • For Children and Adults Who Have Been Abused
      • Can a Child Recover from the Effects of Sexual Abuse?
      • Healing and Recovery for Adults Abused as Children
      • Why Therapy is So Important for a Child Who Has Been Abused
      • How Does Therapy Help a Child?
      • What Kind of Therapist Should My Child See?
    • For Those At-Risk to Abuse Others or Who Have Offended
      • Adults Who Have Sexually Offended or Feel At-Risk Need Very Specialized Help
      • Help for Adults Concerned About Their Own Thoughts or Behaviors
    • For Parents and Caregivers
      • Natural Reactions of Parents and Caregivers to Abuse
      • Mistaken Beliefs that Block Awareness
      • Finding Support for Yourself after Abuse is Disclosed
      • The Power of Your Loving Support
  • Reporting and Legal Issues
    • Filing Reports
      • How to File
      • Who is Required to Report?
      • When Must a Therapist File a Report?
      • What Might Happen after a Report is Filed?
    • Child Protective Services and Police
      • What is Child Protective Services?
      • About Investigations
      • What Can I Do when the System Seems Unable to Protect my Child?
    • Legal Issues
      • Why Permission from a Child or Underage Teen Doesn't Count
      • Consequences for Adults who have Abused a Child
      • Custody Cases Involving Child Sexual Abuse
      • How does Community Notification and the Sex Offender Registry Work?
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