4b-Nine Key Questions

A common worry parents have is how to broach the subject with their child without the child feeling uncomfortable, especially very young children. I think this issue is a bit like the general subject of sex education - which parent hasn't put off discussing sexual matters because 'now is not the right time'? The problem with taking this attitude with protection from sexual abuse is that the first person to introduce the subject may be your child's abuser. Far easier and more effective is to make anything sexual an easy subject to discuss with your child from the very beginning when sex doesn't have the emotional impact it will later on. The previous checklist of questions could be a guide for how to ensure your child knows where the boundaries are and how to recognise when those boundaries are being broken.

With older children it is never too late to introduce the subject of self-protection, and protection from sexual abuse should be part of a general discussion on bullying and other forms of interference with their safety. The biggest weapon any abuser will have is the victim's sense of isolation and helplessness. To protect themselves from abuse, children need to believe and feel that they can immediately disclose any worry to a parent or other trusted adult.

Charles Fortt