Myths And facts
01
Myth: We live in a really safe neighborhood. I KNOW that children wouldn’t ever be sexually abused here”.
Fact: Child sexual abuse can happen anywhere, in any neighborhood, in every religion, covering all racial boundaries, and it certainly doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are.
02
Myth: I have already talked with children about not allowing anyone to touch their private parts.
Fact: Sexual abuse occurs by forcing or manipulating a child in a way that allows the sexual offender to touch the child’s private parts.
03
Myth: Most sexual abuse cases are committed by people who are complete strangers to you or your child.
Fact: Most of the time, the abusers are trusted family members, coaches, close friends, and caregivers.
04
Myth: You believe that children would automatically tell you that he or she had been sexually abused.
Fact: Most sexually abused children do not tell anyone they were abused, even when directly asked by parents. Victims of sexual abuse are often too afraid that the news will hurt their parents, or they are afraid of not being believed, or they were threatened in some way by the offender.
05
Myth: Teaching children about sexual abuse scares or causes a negative impact on them.
Fact: Children can easily take in the information of the subject without feeling frightened. Most of the abuse prevention does not involve informing your children that something might happen to them. It involves giving children a better understanding of concepts that they will use on a day-to-day basis, as well as if a molester ever targets them.
