![]() ![]() Regardless of a person’s intentions, these tips are important to creating and sustaining an environment that prioritizes the safety of children. Teaching children about appropriate and inappropriate behaviors is important because it helps them and us to identify a situation that could lead to sexual abuse. ![]() It is our job to take these opportunities, no matter how trivial they may seem to us, to bond with our children and let them know that we value their right to feel safe. Regardless of the truth, if our children cannot trust us to be there for them, they may be discouraged from coming to us when they need the help of an adult. It may have been harmless or it may have been an indicator that something inappropriate was going to happen. With Sophia, it was definitely important for her to tell her mom, and rightly – her mom should have called Emily’s mother to talk to her about the incident. Sometimes their instincts will be more on point than our own – do not disregard your child’s feelings! In the situation of “Noah” – he may have been unnecessarily afraid of his dad’s friend, Peter, or he may have sensed something that his parents didn’t – we may never know. As they mature, they will naturally become more comfortable in these situations it is not helpful to try to force a child to “overcome” a fear – this often only backfires causing more anxiety for the child. ![]() They need to know we will protect them and stand up for their right to feel safe, even if it’s something as harmless as sitting on Santa’s lap or your great aunt that couldn’t hurt a fly – it’s not about what we feel – the focus needs to be on how our children feel, now. Young children may feel hesitant about a lot of situations or people, this is normal and they look to us to establish a sense of security and protection. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |