Talking to Young Christian Children about Sexual Abuse - Valerie Jacobsen

Talking to Young Christian Children about Sexual Abuse - Valerie Jacobsen

Giving tools to children to help keep them safe from predators -- Jacobsen provides several scripts for addressing this issue from a Christian perspective and in a way that is clear but comprehensible for younger children.

"Information should be given to children in small doses, formally and informally, frequently and with reminders. Our kids should know that their questions are always welcome, and we should question them casually, from time to time, to see what they remember. (If you have a number of children, keep a record of which conversations you have had with which children. Don't equate 'telling the children' with assuming that every child knows and remembers all of the content you mean to teach.)...

"Safe adults won't ask children for private help, they don't tell children their secrets, they don't ask children to hide with them, and they won't encourage children to be alone with them....

"Some people are very tricky people! They might tell you a lie, might scare you, might threaten to hurt somebody, might promise you something you want, might give you presents. They might say that if you tell me, you make me sad, or that I won't believe you. But I know the best ways to protect all of us from all the tricky people. I will never be too sad to help you, and I will always believe you...."