Five Things To Avoid When Talking To Your Child About Sexual Abuse

Talking with your child about sex is hard. Talking to your child about the threat of sexual abuse is even harder. And talking to your child about suspected child sex abuse can be emotionally overwhelming and excruciating. While many parents know to be open, honest, and loving with their children during these delicate conversations, they may not know what to avoid. Here’s a list of five suggestions:

• Avoid suggestive or leading questions. Young children can be highly suggestible, and they also want to please you by giving correct answers. Do not ask questions like, “He touched you on your private parts, didn’t he?” Stay away from mentioning specific people, places, or events.
• Avoid asking repetitive questions or long strings of questioning. If you ask a question multiple times, a child may give a different answer just to stop the questioning or to come up with the “right” answer. Also, asking the same questions can frustrate a child.
• Avoid becoming visibly worried or upset. Children are excellent at pickup up on their parent’s behavior. If you become upset, they may quickly suspect that something is wrong or that they are discussing something that they shouldn’t.
• Don’t give vague answers to direct questions. Although a conversation abuse sexual abuse is going to be extremely uncomfortable for you, don’t skirt issues or sugarcoat answers if your child asks you direct questions.
• Don’t avoid discussing the issue of sexual abuse until after you are suspicious that something has happened to your child. If you discuss sexual assault with your child as soon has he or she can understand, they will be more likely to come forward after an incident and understand that it is important to tell someone.

Has your child been sexually abused in a daycare or by a daycare worker in Texas? Talk to a knowledgeable Dallas attorney today.