Sexual Abuse of Children

     There is a growing problem that plagues our country. People try to hide it but the officials are finding the offenders. I am talking about sexual abuse of our countries children. Sexual abuse is defined as any inappropriate touching of a child. It can also be defined as showing a child pornography or making a child touch you inappropriately. Sexual abuse of children usually happens by a family member or someone close to the family. The child normally knows the individual who sexually abuses them.

     Children and teens are vulnerable and they are normally left defenseless.  They are placed in or around family and friends that they are taught to trust. There have been documented cases of sexual abuse in children less than 2 years old. It is a tragedy that our children can be violated so easily.  The abuser will tell the child that if they tell they will harm them or their family. There is no typical profile for a child sexual abuser.

     You would be shocked to learn that not only girls are sexually abused but boys are also sexually abused. There are some physical signs that you can look for to determine whether your child has been sexually abused. The child will be withdrawn and they won’t want to be touched. They will be fearful and their school performance will decline. They will spend more time alone.

     The best way to avoid the sexual abuse of your child is to be open with them. Tell your child what an appropriate touch is and what is not an appropriate touch. Teach your young children their body parts so that they can tell if they have been touched inappropriately.  If you have discovered that your child has been sexually abused, report it to the police. If you suspect that your child has been touched inappropriately, take them to a doctor to be examined.

     Talk with your child each day and let them know that you care about them. Your child will be more honest with you when you show an interest in their lives.  Let them know that you will love and protect them no matter what the circumstances are.  Let them know that they didn’t do anything wrong but that they were a victim of sexual abuse. You read about it in the newspaper and you hear about it on the news but you don’t think that it could happen to your child.

     There are more teenage girls who are sexually abused by their boy friends. No still means no and a boyfriend who violates that is a sexual abuser. Teenage girls feel alot of pressure when it comes to their sexuality. They feel pressured to lose their virginity by their peers. Abstinence is the best policy. If you teach your teenager that sex before marriage ids not acceptable, you are helping to protect them. The teenagers need to know that their self worth is not who they are having sex with but that they are not having sex with.

     We as a society need to protect our children any way that we know how. Keep your children involved in activities and sports. Don’t leave them unattended with older boys or girls. If they want to have a get together or party, have another parent chaperone the party.  We have a duty to protect our children.