Everywhere
you turn it’s in the news nowadays… the sexual abuse and exploitation of
children. On one hand it’s good – and I only mean good in the sense that people
are finally taking notice. The media is reporting it, blogs are talking about
it, society is hearing about it. But it’s also bad in that we are seeing for
the first time in history how truly pervasive this crime really is.
My
concern is the more we talk about, the more cases we list, the more
perpetrators we expose – do we risk society becoming apathetic? I think some
citizens and some parents will become more aware, enlightened and engaged, but
I fear others will become desensitized and disengage.
I would
rather accept that most of society knows this is a problem at this point and
offer solutions. So today’s post is just that – a solution – at least part of
the solution. The true solution to child sexual abuse and exploitation, as the
entire Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) team learned recently at the Prevent Child Abuse America
conference, is a multidimensional approach that encompasses many strategies and
partners. One of those strategies is educating children.
So let’s
talk today about talking to kids. If, as we always say, adults are responsible
for keeping kids safe is true, why do we need to talk to kids? Because the
child is the predator’s target and we can’t be with our kids 24/7. In other words,
we can do the best we can to protect them, but if we don’t prepare them to
protect themselves, a smart and manipulative predator might easily target and victimize
them. So we need to empower and educate our children to help us keep them safe.
What do
we talk to them about and when? There is no magic formula. The keys are to be
available and to get over our own uncomfortable feelings about the topics we
need to discuss. Topics which are many and varied – from basic body part names at the
youngest of ages to safe use of social media at older ages. Sometimes as
parents we get so busy that when our kids come to us we make them feel they are
unimportant and we are too busy. Our goal should be to let them know we are
always available to talk about anything. When kids know we are available, they
are more likely to come to us with their questions and concerns, including questions
about the more sensitive, scary or uncomfortable topics.
As adults,
as parents, it is our responsibility to get over our own feelings of anxiety to
protect our children. Even educated professionals are often uncomfortable talking
to children about sex, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and pornography. These
are truly uncomfortable topics – I get that. But there are two very good
reasons we must talk to our kids anyway.
Studies reveal children know more than we think they do and at younger ages
than we assume. A Symantec study revealed that the fourth most frequently
searched term on the Internet for children 7 and under was “porn,” indicating
they have heard the word somewhere and they want to know what it is. And if we
don’t talk to our children… somebody else will. Interviews with predators have
revealed they look for children who don’t have knowledge and are
curious about sexual topics and they initiate intimate conversations with them.
These initial contacts often lead to further, and often willing, sexual activity.
We must
not kid ourselves into thinking that our child is not susceptible to these
predators. Every child – even the best, most innocent and well-protected
child needs to be educated with safety information in order to protect
themselves.
