Sexual Abuse

How to Prevent It

By Julia Rosien

Preventing child molestation starts long before you leave your child at baseball practice or swimming lessons. Children are more likely to be molested by someone they know than by a stranger. Teach them to feel resolute in their ability to advocate for themselves when you aren't there to protect them.

Like many parents, Anna Cameron and her husband allow their children to participate in extracurricular activities on their own. Their three boys play soccer, take swimming lessons and belong to Scouts. Tragedy hit their small community when a local Scout leader was charged with sexual misconduct involving minors. When the courts released the name of the offender, Cameron couldn't believe it was her older son's leader.

After talking to their children and counselors, the Camerons felt secure in the knowledge that they had protected their son. "We spent a week in shock, dancing around questions with our son, but in the end he hadn't been touched," Anna says. "The measures we take every day in our house paid off." The Camerons were more than just lucky; they were prepared.

Astounding as this may sound, we need to encourage children as early as toddlerhood to say no to people they trust. By giving children choices concerning their bodies, we prepare them for the critical moment when they need to say no to an adult who intends to hurt them.

Want to see more?

• How To Talk to Your Kids About Anything
• Straight Talk: Giving Your Child the Facts About Sex -- ways to broach this touchy subject.