Children are by nature vulnerable to those more powerful than they are. Sexual abuse does not occur because of a particular quality in the child, but solely because of traits or decisions made on the part of the person abusing. Yet, if we can understand why some children may be more likely to be...
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All children are curious about sex. The more children know about their own sexuality, the less likely it is that others will take advantage of them because of their lack of knowledge. Having ongoing conversations with children and teens about their own developing sexuality is an important part of...
Don’t wait. If you are concerned about keeping your child safe from sexual abuse, now is the time to create a safer environment for everyone in your family. Prevention means promoting healthy behaviors rather than waiting to punish violations. The most effective sexual abuse prevention happens...
The law indicates who can consent to sex and who cannot. The law recognizes that children are developmentally not able to make decisions about some things, including when to engage in sexual behaviors. Laws vary by state, but a common age of consent is 16. Engaging in sexual behaviors with someone...
Creating safe environments for student athletes in both competitive and leisure sports activities is possible when all adults, including parents and those in athletic youth-serving programs, commit to learning warning signs when codes of conduct are breached, how to speak up when there is a concern...
You can learn to recognize typical behaviors. If you are a parent or work with children, learning about sexual development is key to preventing child sexual abuse. You can learn to recognize typical behaviors -- as well as the concerning behaviors that need intervention. You can learn to talk to...
The Facts About Child Sexual Abuse Surveys of adults reveal that as many as one in three girls and one in six boys have been sexually abused before the age of eighteen. And the trauma of sexual abuse can affect the emotional and physical health of those children for the rest of their lives. Nine...
It can be hard to acknowledge that all of us, even children, are sexual beings, have sexual feelings and are curious about sex and sexuality. Children’s curiosity can lead to exploring their own and each other’s body parts by looking and touching. They may peek when family members are in the...