Safety Measures against Child Sexual Abuse

by Editor in Chief

We live in a cruel harsh world... One that has little regard for the sanctity of relations or innocence of age. Awareness to harassment and how to counter it is now a prerequisite to keeping our kids safe. At Spinchat, have compiled a few pointers. The list is in no way complete or exhaustive. 

The following is applicable to the safety of boys and girls both.

1. Educate them about their bodies. Make them aware that their bodies belong to them and them only. No one has the right to touch them. Not even their parents, unless it is to bathe them or wash them with their permission. Even at a doctor's appointment, parent supervision is absolutely imperative. Talk to them about the right touch and the wrong touch (sometimes tickling might feel good, but it might still be wrong, so be careful with the common good touch bad touch motto).  (Watch how to train children with Aamir Khan here ).

2. Educate them that if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable they have to get away. And inform you asap. When they do.... BELIEVE THEM. don't ever make them feel it's their fault. Appreciate their courage for opening up to you.

3. Don't let young kids go to public washrooms unattended. 

4. Don't leave kids alone with any kind of help. Make sure a family member is there to supervise the help at all times. Specially during school runs. Never allow your domestic help, specially drivers to pick up your child on their own. Being present is the only sure shot way of safeguarding your child. 

5. Identify some self defense moves. Like pushing away, shouting, crying for help. Identify a safe person with your child. In case they feel threatened, they should immediately inform the safe person who can be the mother or the father or even elder brother. 

6. Educate about proximity. Personal space. How they should never allow anyone to come too close, including siblings of opposite genders. It is absolutely imperative that you teach the child that male cousins are not their real siblings and any kind of physical contact has to be monitored and kept to minimum. Do not allow your child to sit on the laps of the relatives. 

7. Educate that secrets are bad. No one should ever ask them to keep a secret from the parents, including their friends. If anyone does, identify them as tricky people. 

8.Tell them that grown ups ask grown ups for help. Not young children. If a grown up asks them to come with them to a separate room, outright refuse. Inform the mom or any nearby safe person. 

9. Filter screentime. Particularly YouTube. There has been an onslaught of soft porn videos on kids' channels with Spiderman, Elsa, Minnie and Mickey as main leads. Kids get misled into believing that these are kid shows. Kids who are exposed to such sexually explicit videos have higher chances of becoming perpetrators themselves as they might want to act it out with their younger cousins, siblings or friends. The negative impact of media cannot be overemphasized. 

10. Don't trust the kids these days as well. A lot of child abuse cases are committed by children themselves, specially by the children who are abused in anyway themselves or are exposed to sexually explicit material. 

Image courtesy; Dove's Nest

11.No sleepovers. Period.

12. Set a password between yourself and your child for emergencies. Tell the kids if anyone tells them the parent has sent them to pick the kids, ask for the password. Keep it secret. And change it after 3 months or so.

13. Children are NOT to be left UNSUPERVISED. Be vigilant. Let's be very clear... We CANNOT trust the law and order situation. Children are NOT Safe outside the home. Supervise them YOURSELF. don't let them go to unsupervised playdates even. Do not trust anyone but yourself for the supervision for your child. Your child is your responsibility. Take charge. 

14. Be extra careful in public places. Keep a lookout. Identify suspicious individuals. Loners and the ones who are staring. Stare right back. And register that you've noticed them. Don't let kids out of hands reach. Also look out for other kids. If you see a child in distress, never hesitate to stop and inquire. Stand up for all children. 

15. Watch out for any change in the behavior of your child. If they unusually secretive, reclusive, quiet or losing sleep and appetite, do not shrug it off. Investigate and be open about it. Don't make the sexual mentions taboo in your house. 

These are some basics. There are verbal abuses as well, where the perpetrators narrate sexual encounters or disturbing stories in the presence of children deliberately. Make sure your children are comfortable with you, so much so they can share these incidents with you. 

Please share this article with your loved ones and help us spread awareness about child abuse and possible safety measures.

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