How to Keep Your Child Safe from Abuse

No one wants to think about their child being abused. But abuse happens. Research by the NSPCC shows around 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused. It is never the fault of the child that this has happened.

There are different forms of child abuse, but in this article, we will look specifically at preventing sexual abuse. This abuse is normally carried out by someone the child knows, and can happen online or in person. The NSPCC has lots of information about other forms of abuse.

Child sexual abuse includes:

• Exposing or flashing
• Showing pornography to a child
• Making a child take part in sexual conversations online
• Sexual touching of any part of a child’s body
• Making a child undress or touch someone else
• Forcing a child to take part in sexual activities

There are practical steps you can take as a parent to help keep your child safe from abuse and encourage them to speak up when they feel at risk. These conversations can happen in an age-appropriate way that doesn’t frighten or worry your child.

1: Understanding their body

You might feel worried about talking about abuse with your child, particularly if they’re young. No one likes to think of their child being at risk of sexual abuse and we want to protect their innocence. However, there are ways you can have these conversations in a sensitive and age-appropriate way as a part of everyday conversations.

Teaching your child about being safe starts with them learning about their own body.