Educating your child about sexual abuse

With the mounting reports about sexual abuse of young kids, parents face a dilemma about how much and at what age should they start making their children aware about what's wrong and what's right. Behaviour expert and long term behavioral coach Ruchi Motial Suri gives us some tips.

Child abuse related stock image. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

Child abuse related stock image. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING Source: AAP

Educating your child on the dangers of sexual abuse

 

With the recent much publicized incidents of the rape of minors in India and in other countries, parents naturally feel a strong need to educate their kids about sexual misconduct.  For many it is a dilemma as to how one can approach this topic with children.

 When should you approach the subject with them? How much or how little information should you share about a topic which is not commonly discussed in Indian homes?

 We spoke with Ruchi Motial-Suri, a behavioral expert who also coaches children as well as grown-ups to gain long term behavioral transformations.

 Ruchi gives us some tips:

 

  • Educate your child on the dangers as a continuous process not just a one-time discussion.
 

  • If watching a film, you can discuss what’s wrong and what’s right.
 

  • If there has been a news story about sexual abuse,  that’s a good opportunity to discuss correct behavior.
 

  • When children ask questions give them the correct answers, don’t make up stories.to avoid awkward conversations.
 

  • Discuss their day at school, ask them about their friends, who they meet, who they like and if they don’t like someone find out more.
 

  • Advise them that some parts of the body are very private.

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2 min read

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By Kumud Merani


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