My girls were little then, so I began by reading picture books to them about the body, what it looks like inside and out, and how it functions. I would add to that information by telling them no one is allowed to touch them beneath their bathing suits. It was only okay if I were with them, and if we were at the doctor’s office.
When they were old enough for sleepovers with friends, they knew they didn’t have my permission until I was given the chance to get to know the parents first. I needed important information from those parents like:
- Where are the girls going to sleep?
- Are older kids in the house?
- Are the parents planning to leave at any point?
- What time is bedtime?
- What movies are they watching?
- What foods are they eating?
- What games are they going to play?
- If there are guns in the house, are they locked up?
- What drugs are in their medicine cabinets?
- Can my child use the house phone if she wants to come home?
Actually, I told the adults that they could not say no to my child if she wanted to use their phone to call home, and that they did not need to explain why! I would say this in front of my child and the adult, so everyone was on the same page.
When my girls were teens, they knew they didn’t have my permission to hang out with their friends until they could tell me who they would be with, when they would be home, and if any adults would be present. If they couldn’t answer some of those questions, it made them wonder whether or not this would be a safe situation. In that case, they usually decided to pass on that particular activity.
Today, my girls are out of high school, and my son is an adolescent. There isn’t anything we can't talk about. In fact, my daughter wrote an article a few years ago that shows you exactly what she thinks about the way I educated them on the subject of child sexual abuse and the effect it has had on her. Here’s the link:
http://www.educate4change.com/blog1/child-sexual-abuse-right-under-our-noses
I am so proud of her and grateful that I took the time to educate them. You can educate your kids like this, as well. It’s never too soon to start!
If you missed the FREE 90 min webinar on How to Keep your Kids Safe, here is the link:
Recording URL: http://www.anymeeting.com/SvavaBrooks/E952D680894D3E
********
Are you struggling with your healing journey? I can help you take that next step. Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!
Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/