At Alliance For Children, we believe that child abuse is preventable. It is our goal to prevent abuse by empowering children, as well as educating adults to take courageous action to protect children.
Some of the best protective actions for caregivers are to have conversations with children about personal body safety, develop boundaries and values with children, and empower them to tell you if someone hurts them or makes them feel uncomfortable.
As parents and caregivers we want children to engage with us as we have these brave conversations and come to us if they have questions or concerns; but in order for these important conversations to be effective, we must create meaningful connections with children in the small moments of their lives. There are many reasons children do not disclose abuse, including being afraid of an adult's reaction or feeling that they will not be supported. It is not enough for us to have a conversation about personal body safety and encourage children to tell us if something is wrong. We have to empower children with our actions. For children to feel comfortable having difficult conversations, we have to be proactive in building connection and relationships. If we actively listen to children when they talk about the minute details of their day, if we seek opportunities to engage and spend quality time with our children, then they will be more likely to believe us when we tell them we will be there for the difficult moments.
With school and extracurricular activities being limited, right now is a perfect time to connect with children in meaningful ways that build protective bonds. For a list of unique activities that foster bonding and connection we encourage you to visit our blog.
