Safety Conversation – Does your child know the safety rule?

I recently at an event at a local middle school, and got to talking to some parents afterwards.  One mother was concerned about how her 11 year old daughter was dressing.  I said, “First things first – have you had a safety conversation?”  I was not surprised when the mother said no.  Unfortunately, many parents skip talking about simple issues and are of course flummoxed by how to approach more complex ones.

Does your child know the safety rule?

Start here:

It is vital that you tell your child that only you and their doctor are allowed to see or touch their private parts.  Be firm about this exclusivity.  No one else is allowed to touch them that way, not siblings, not friends, not other family members.  If your kids are young, drill them on this rule at bath time.  In the car on the way to a sleep over, ask if they remember the rule.  Keep asking until you’re sure they know and remember it.

I can’t emphasize enough how important this conversation is.  I didn’t know this rule.  My siblings didn’t.  Neither did my best friend.  We all had experiences that our parents would have wanted to protect us from.  It’s very simple, very powerful, and preventativeToo many children have sexual experiences, not because they are curious, but because a trusted relative, neighbor, or friend’s sibling took advantage of their innocence.  Teaching your children this rule is the first step in preventing sexual abuse from ever happening.

If you think your child is ready for it, take it one step further

Ask, “If someone wants to look at or touch your private parts, what would you do?”  Form a plan together.  Maybe you want your child to shout “NO!” and run away from that person.  Maybe you want your child to tell you immediately, calling you on your cell phone if necessary (Make sure they know your number!  Practice singing all ten digits to help them remember).  Emphasize that your child does not have to do everything that someone older or bigger than them wants them to do.  In this case, it’s the right thing to do to say no to an adult.

If your child is older, like that mother’s 11 year old daughter, you might want to open the conversation more carefully, with a question.  “Has anyone other than me or Daddy or a doctor wanted to see or touch your private parts?”  You wouldn’t want to lay down the rule and have your child feel guilty that they unknowingly broke the rule at some point in the past.  Sexually abused children often think the abuse was their fault, because they weren’t able to stop it from happening.  If you uncover something troubling with this question, hide whatever outrage you might feel.  Tell your child it’s not their fault, it doesn’t change how much you love them, and you’re glad they told you.  Then consult an expert, like your child’s school psychologist.  They can help you figure out what to do for your particular situation.

The safety conversation

If you haven’t had the safety conversation yet, and your child is at least 3 years old, please do it tonight.  Tomorrow, ask them if they remember the rule.  Ask again in a week.  Put it in your calendar if you have to! Keep asking until you know they’ve got it. Don’t let your child go another day without this important boundary.

Let this conversation be the first of many.  By starting to talk about private parts and what you want for your child, you pave the way towards more difficult topics.

In support of you,
Anya

P.S. If you’re looking for more ideas on how to connect with your kids, click here to schedule a call with me.

P.P.S. Up for a challenge? Check out the Birds + Bees and Beyond for important conversations you can have with your kids.

, , , ,
Previous Post
Questions from the Question Box
Next Post
How are you preparing your child for puberty?

Related Posts

5 Comments. Leave new

  • Thanks, Anya, I’ve addressed this issue with the kids but not quite so clearly. Your clarity really helps to drive the point home.

    Reply
  • Thank you so much, Anya. I’m going to make sure and tell my little boy again tonight… and tomorrow… and quiz him in the future! I was abused as a child and I wish my mother would have told me that if anyone ever did this, I should tell her and it’s not my fault. I think that could have stopped it from happening again.

    Reply
  • This really helps Anya. When my daughter was 2 3/4 she was playing in the bath and had a toy on the bottom of her barbie dolls bottom. She mentioned dirty trick. When I watched I was horrified at what I was seeing. I started wretching. I ended up going to family court after stopping access visits to her dad. He got visits the next day because there was no physical signs of abuse. He then started teaching my daughter to pinch my nipples, karate chop my face and stomach and he also taught her to simulate oral sex on a balloon. I took my daughter to protective behaviours and she apparently told her dad and stepmom NO I’ll dry my privates! When he got supervised visits initially his lawyer said defending him that I was causing my daughter to fear him. I was furious but relieved when I heard how vocal my daughter was not letting him touch her private parts. Him and his wife remembered a cartoon after 9 months of court intervention explaining the dirty trick. I know he did something to her that day because of the anxiety and unusual niceness towards me when he handed her over to me. He was usually condescending and sarcastic when he spoke to me. I have wondered whether the video and the dog shaped balloon was a cover up for him sexually abusing my daughter? I will never know as she was so young. I suspect at 7 something else happened to her. I went over and over protective behaviours again and again with her. She refused to sleep at her dads for a year. No more problems really since then. This protective behaviours so important! Especially a very loud NO don’t touch me there is enough to make them stop

    Reply
    • Lorraine, I’m so sorry for what you and your daughter have been through. I’m so glad this article helps, and thank you for chiming in with what you’ve unfortunately learned: that a strong NO can really make the difference.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.