Protect Your Child from Sexual Abuse
The statistics on the sexual abuse of children are staggering. Some estimates place the incidence as high as 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (Aust. Institute of Criminology, 1993). As parents, teachers and community members, what can we do to ensure both our children and children we come in contact with are protected, informed and safe? These 4 key points are crucial. 1. Education Learn how to protect your child from sexual abuse by educating them in Body Safety, and educating yourself and your community. 2. Awareness Become aware of...
Protect Your Child from Sexual Abuse
The statistics on the sexual abuse of children are staggering. Some estimates place the incidence as high as 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (Aust. Institute of Criminology, 1993). As parents, teachers and community members, what can we do to ensure both our children and children we come in contact with are protected, informed and safe? These 4 key points are crucial. 1. Education Learn how to protect your child from sexual abuse by educating them in Body Safety, and educating yourself and your community. 2. Awareness Become aware of...
Pedophiles Groom Both the Child and the Family
Up to 95% of child sexual abusers are male (Bagley, 1995). They can be single, married and have families of their own. Up to 1/3 of reported offenses are committed by adolescents (Bagley, 1995). 95% of abusers will be known to the family (Child Protection Council, 1993). They will be a trusted friend and/or family member. Need more convincing? Check out our Statistics page... It is crucial to note, that child sex offenders ‘groom’ both the child and the family. It is also important to note, that the sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries. Child sexual offenders...
Pedophiles Groom Both the Child and the Family
Up to 95% of child sexual abusers are male (Bagley, 1995). They can be single, married and have families of their own. Up to 1/3 of reported offenses are committed by adolescents (Bagley, 1995). 95% of abusers will be known to the family (Child Protection Council, 1993). They will be a trusted friend and/or family member. Need more convincing? Check out our Statistics page... It is crucial to note, that child sex offenders ‘groom’ both the child and the family. It is also important to note, that the sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries. Child sexual offenders...
Terrifying Statistics Linking Child Sexual Abuse and Porn Internet Use
• European researchers (COPINE) … found 78% of offenders charged with downloading or possessing abusive images had abused children prior to, or soon after viewing images. On average, each offender had abused up to 30 different children. (Personal correspondence with Briggs 5th Jan 2006) • 1 in 4 men arrested for possessing child pornography had a history of molesting children. (Software Tracks Child Porn Traffickers On-line, USA Today 16th April 2008) • In the US National Juvenile Online Victimization Survey by Wolak, Mitchell and Finkelhor (2003), it was found that a majority of the offenders arrested for possession...
Terrifying Statistics Linking Child Sexual Abuse and Porn Internet Use
• European researchers (COPINE) … found 78% of offenders charged with downloading or possessing abusive images had abused children prior to, or soon after viewing images. On average, each offender had abused up to 30 different children. (Personal correspondence with Briggs 5th Jan 2006) • 1 in 4 men arrested for possessing child pornography had a history of molesting children. (Software Tracks Child Porn Traffickers On-line, USA Today 16th April 2008) • In the US National Juvenile Online Victimization Survey by Wolak, Mitchell and Finkelhor (2003), it was found that a majority of the offenders arrested for possession...
How to Educate Your Child in Body Safety
We teach our children water safety and road safety — it is equally important to teach our children ‘body safety’ from a very young age. As both a teacher and a mother, I strongly recommend to all parents that ‘body safety’ become a normal part of your parenting conversation. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries, and providing children with body safety skills both empowers them with knowledge of what is good and bad touch, and teaches simple but effective assertiveness — a crucial life-skill. The statistics of 1 in 3 girls and I in 6 boys will...
How to Educate Your Child in Body Safety
We teach our children water safety and road safety — it is equally important to teach our children ‘body safety’ from a very young age. As both a teacher and a mother, I strongly recommend to all parents that ‘body safety’ become a normal part of your parenting conversation. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries, and providing children with body safety skills both empowers them with knowledge of what is good and bad touch, and teaches simple but effective assertiveness — a crucial life-skill. The statistics of 1 in 3 girls and I in 6 boys will...
Our Last Taboo — Child Sexual Abuse
Every day I feel more and more hopeful that our last taboo in this our ‘modern’ and ‘forward-thinking society’ is being, not only discussed, but acted upon. The prevention of child sexual abuse and its devastating aftermath, is finally being talked about in mainstream society. Not as quickly and not as openly as I would like, but I do believe more and more parents and educators are willing to discuss what they can do to prevent future generations of children from its crippling consequences. When I wrote Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept three years ago, the subject of child...
Our Last Taboo — Child Sexual Abuse
Every day I feel more and more hopeful that our last taboo in this our ‘modern’ and ‘forward-thinking society’ is being, not only discussed, but acted upon. The prevention of child sexual abuse and its devastating aftermath, is finally being talked about in mainstream society. Not as quickly and not as openly as I would like, but I do believe more and more parents and educators are willing to discuss what they can do to prevent future generations of children from its crippling consequences. When I wrote Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept three years ago, the subject of child...
Why I Wrote Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept
Many years ago when I was having a break from teaching, I worked as an editor at an educational publisher. One of the first books I ever edited was a teacher’s resource called ‘Keeping Children Safe’ by Dr Freda Briggs. It was all about teaching children body safety and it had a huge impact on me as a young woman. Many years later when I became a mother, I made sure my three daughters were educated in body safety and knew the difference between good and bad touch. Knowing I had educated them from a young age (3 years onwards),...
Why I Wrote Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept
Many years ago when I was having a break from teaching, I worked as an editor at an educational publisher. One of the first books I ever edited was a teacher’s resource called ‘Keeping Children Safe’ by Dr Freda Briggs. It was all about teaching children body safety and it had a huge impact on me as a young woman. Many years later when I became a mother, I made sure my three daughters were educated in body safety and knew the difference between good and bad touch. Knowing I had educated them from a young age (3 years onwards),...
My Body is MY Body Safety Song
This little song “My Body is MY Body” written by Debra Byrne and Jayneen Sanders (author of Some Secrets Should Never Be kept) can make a huge difference to the safety of our children. The song; sung by Debra’s daughter, grandson and neighbour, provides kids with knowledge about their body ownership and their rights in relation to their body. Knowledge is a powerful tool and as a community, we have a duty of care to empower the children under our protection. For too long we have left children unprotected without any knowledge of their rights in relation to...
My Body is MY Body Safety Song
This little song “My Body is MY Body” written by Debra Byrne and Jayneen Sanders (author of Some Secrets Should Never Be kept) can make a huge difference to the safety of our children. The song; sung by Debra’s daughter, grandson and neighbour, provides kids with knowledge about their body ownership and their rights in relation to their body. Knowledge is a powerful tool and as a community, we have a duty of care to empower the children under our protection. For too long we have left children unprotected without any knowledge of their rights in relation to...
In light of the Rolf Harris allegations…
In light of the Rolf Harris allegations... as parents and educators we need to listen up! Whether Rolf Harris proves to be guilty or not, what this media coverage highlights is a pedophile can be anyone. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries — 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (Australia Institute of Criminology 2004) and in 93% of cases (and they are only the reported cases) the child knows and trusts the perpetrator. Pedophiles are in our community. And to be blunt, they may well be in...
In light of the Rolf Harris allegations…
In light of the Rolf Harris allegations... as parents and educators we need to listen up! Whether Rolf Harris proves to be guilty or not, what this media coverage highlights is a pedophile can be anyone. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries — 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (Australia Institute of Criminology 2004) and in 93% of cases (and they are only the reported cases) the child knows and trusts the perpetrator. Pedophiles are in our community. And to be blunt, they may well be in...
Top 10 Books to Teach 'Body Safety' to Kids
Keeping Kids Safe from Inappropriate Touch We teach our children water safety and road safety — it is equally important to teach our children ‘body safety’ from a very young age. As both a teacher and a mother, I strongly recommend to all parents that ‘body safety’ become a normal part of your parenting conversation. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries, and providing children with body safety skills empowers them with knowledge of what is good and bad touch. The statistics of 1 in 3 girls and I in 6 boys will be sexually interfered with before their...
Top 10 Books to Teach 'Body Safety' to Kids
Keeping Kids Safe from Inappropriate Touch We teach our children water safety and road safety — it is equally important to teach our children ‘body safety’ from a very young age. As both a teacher and a mother, I strongly recommend to all parents that ‘body safety’ become a normal part of your parenting conversation. The sexual abuse of children has no social boundaries, and providing children with body safety skills empowers them with knowledge of what is good and bad touch. The statistics of 1 in 3 girls and I in 6 boys will be sexually interfered with before their...
Age Appropriate and Inappropriate Sexual Behavior of Children
Normal sexual behavior Children have a natural curiosity about their bodies and sex. This is normal. If you see any of the following behaviors, try not to react in a negative way. Sexual curiosity is how children learn about their gender. Age appropriate sexual behavior can be as follows: • babies, toddlers and young children exploring their genitals and enjoying being naked • questions about why boy’s have a penis and girls don’t, i.e. trying to work out the difference between what it is to be male and what it is to be female • young children of a similar...
Age Appropriate and Inappropriate Sexual Behavior of Children
Normal sexual behavior Children have a natural curiosity about their bodies and sex. This is normal. If you see any of the following behaviors, try not to react in a negative way. Sexual curiosity is how children learn about their gender. Age appropriate sexual behavior can be as follows: • babies, toddlers and young children exploring their genitals and enjoying being naked • questions about why boy’s have a penis and girls don’t, i.e. trying to work out the difference between what it is to be male and what it is to be female • young children of a similar...
An important question on sexual abuse prevention education
Of late, as an author and an advocate of sexual abuse prevention education, I have been asking myself a fundamental, yet very important question. A question that links to the reason why no publisher wished to publish my children’s book on sexual abuse prevention education, and why one bookshop refused to have me do a reading in their store! Quote: “Parents won’t perceive this topic very well." My question is: Why don’t parents teach body safety to their kids? Or even: Why do they actually even hesitate? To me, it is a no brainer. Prevention education is key. Prevention education...
An important question on sexual abuse prevention education
Of late, as an author and an advocate of sexual abuse prevention education, I have been asking myself a fundamental, yet very important question. A question that links to the reason why no publisher wished to publish my children’s book on sexual abuse prevention education, and why one bookshop refused to have me do a reading in their store! Quote: “Parents won’t perceive this topic very well." My question is: Why don’t parents teach body safety to their kids? Or even: Why do they actually even hesitate? To me, it is a no brainer. Prevention education is key. Prevention education...