Personal Safety
As a parent, you do everything in your power to protect your children. You lock all the doors in your house before going to bed. You tell them never to talk to strangers. You insist they wear helmets whenever they ride a bike. But how much time do you spend talking with them about personal safety as it relates to their bodies?
We know that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 5 boys will become victims of sexual abuse before their 18th birthday. Having conversations about personal safety with your children can prevent abuse and help them enjoy a safe childhood.
http://www.lcsnw.org/spokane/safet.html
It happened. It’s not your fault. We are here to help.
You are not alone. We can help. We heal the hearts and minds of children and adults who have suffered from trauma, or sexual, physical or emotional abuse, often by people they know and should be able to trust.
Help begins with a call. We offer the area’s only crisis response hotlines, so our Advocates are available anytime with medical or legal support.
Our services are free and confidential.
24 Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Line: (509) 624-7273
24 Hour Crime Victim Crisis Line: (866) 751-7119
Helpful Books
I Said No! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private
By: Kimberly and Zack King
ISBN-10: 1878076493
Helping kids set healthy boundaries for their private parts can be a daunting and awkward task for parents, counselors and educators. Written from a kid s point of view, I Said No! makes this task a lot easier.
To help Zack cope with a real-life experience he had with a friend, he and his mom wrote a book to help prepare other kids to deal with a range of problematic situations. I Said No! uses kid-friendly language and illustrations to help parents and concerned adults give kids guidance they can understand, practice and use.
Using a simple, direct, decidedly non-icky approach that doesn't dumb down the issues involved, as well as an easy-to-use system to help kids rehearse and remember appropriate responses to help keep them safe, I Said No! covers a variety of topics, including:
What s appropriate and with whom.
How to deal with inappropriate behavior, bribes and threats.
When and where to go for help, and what to do if the people you re turning to for help don t listen.
Dealing with feelings of guilt and shame.
NO Trespassing - This Is MY Body!
By: Pattie Fitzgerald
ISBN-10: 0984747206
Siblings Katie and her little brother Kyle learn about personal safety, private parts, and “thumbs up & thumbs down” touches by talking with their mom in a loving and easy-to-understand manner. With an empowering dialog that is never fearful, parents can use this book to begin this important discussion with their children. Katie and Kyle’s mom also explains the essential “No Secrets” rule in their family, and that it is never their fault if they get an “uh-oh feeling” from anyone.
The story is written with a positive and engaging approach using child-friendly language and charming illustrations. A “Parent's Guide with Prevention Tips” is also included to help parents understand their role in keeping children safe from sexual abuse. By learning how to interpret red flags and how to recognize possible grooming scenarios, parents can significantly reduce the risks and keep their children safe from predators.
“No Trespassing - This Is MY Body!” comes highly recommended by pediatricians, teachers and parents as a valuable tool in the fight against childhood sexual abuse.
(For ages 4 to 8)
A Terrible Thing Happened
By"Margaret M. Holmes
ISBN-10: 1557987017
Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous and had bad dreams. Then he met someone who helped him talk about the terrible thing, and made him feel better.
Your body belongs to you
In simple, reassuring language, the author explains that a child's body is his or her own; that it is all right for kids to decline a friendly hug or kiss, even from someone they love; and that you can still be friends even if you don't want a hug now.
I can play it safe
Here’s help for all adults who want to talk to young children about personal safety. Written by an expert in child safety, this full-color picture book teaches kids (and helps adults reinforce) seven important rules to personal safety in a nonthreatening way. It covers topics like safe versus harmful secrets, safe versus harmful touches, and the importance of having a community of trusted adults to turn to for help. Emphasizing the “check-in” rule and teaching kids to trust their gut instincts, this book gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart choices about their personal safety every day.
Do you have a Secret?
Every child has secrets, and many secrets are fun to keep--for instance, a surprise birthday gift for Mom, or a secret handshake with a young friend. But sometimes, children have secrets that make them feel bad, and these secrets are best shared with their parents, or with some trusted older person. A child who is bullied might be inclined to keep it secret, but it's always best to tell parents about it. Or children who are touched intimately and improperly by an older person will soon feel better if they reveal the secret to parents. This book helps kids distinguish between good and bad secrets. Even very young children have concerns and anxieties, and Tell Somebody Books are written and illustrated especially for them. Parents are advised to read these books aloud while their preschooler listens and looks at illustrations of the boys and girls in each story. Many children in early grades will be able to read the stories for themselves. Tell Somebody Books encourage children to explore their feelings, and then to speak openly about things that trouble them.
Scoop
GIVE CHILDREN THE SCOOP ON PERSONAL SAFETY WITH THIS POWERFULLY IMPORTANT STORY WRITTEN TO GIVE CHILDREN THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO MAKE RIGHT CHOICES IN THEIR DAILY SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. SCOOP TELLS THE STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL WHO FINDS A RABBIT, KEEPS IT AS HER OWN, AND AS A RESULT, LEARNS A HANDY LESSON ON HOW TO STAY SAFE IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS. THIS BOOK IS AN EXCELLENT TOOL TO HELP PARENTS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, AND CAREGIVERS EQUIP CHILDREN WITH SAFETY SKILLS TO PREVENT CHILD ABDUCTION. WRITTEN IN A FRIENDLY, NON-THREATENING MANNER, SCOOP TAKES A REFRESHINGLY EMPATHETIC APPROACH TO THE TOPIC OF PERSONAL SAFETY FROM A CHILD S POINT OF VIEW. SCOOP IS AN ACRONYM TO HELP CHILDREN REMEMBER FIVE PERSONAL SAFETY STRATEGIES: BE SMART, USE YOUR CALL LIST, ZERO TALKING TO STRANGERS, KEEP STRANGERS OUT OF YOUR PERSONAL SPACE, AND ALWAYS PAIR UP. INCLUDES NOTE TO PARENTS AND TIPS FOR PARENTS WRITTEN BY DON WOOD, FOUNDER OF CHILD WATCH OF NORTH AMERICA. SUPPORTS THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN
I Said No!
Helping kids set healthy boundaries for their private parts can be a daunting and awkward task for parents, counselors and educators. Written from a kid s point of view, I Said No! makes this task a lot easier.
To help Zack cope with a real-life experience he had with a friend, he and his mom wrote a book to help prepare other kids to deal with a range of problematic situations. I Said No! uses kid-friendly language and illustrations to help parents and concerned adults give kids guidance they can understand, practice and use.
Using a simple, direct, decidedly non-icky approach that doesn't dumb down the issues involved, as well as an easy-to-use system to help kids rehearse and remember appropriate responses to help keep them safe, I Said No! covers a variety of topics, including:
What s appropriate and with whom.
How to deal with inappropriate behavior, bribes and threats.
When and where to go for help, and what to do if the people you re turning to for help don t listen.
Dealing with feelings of guilt and shame.
No More Secrets for Me
Fully endorsed by the Masters and Johnson Institute, "No More Secrets for Me is an invaluable resource to help parents talk with their children about the sensitive subject of sexual abuse. This updated edition, with a new foreword and chapter introductions, will help young people recognize the warning signs of abuse. The book will also reassure parents that their children will be prepared to avoid this all-too-real-danger.
Julie, who is eight or nine, talks about privacy and about saying "no" to touching that makes her uncomfortable.
