Online Session - Ilakku Foundation, Madurai

Online Session on Role of Us in Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Successfully completed for Ilakku Students Thanks to management and students for the time and opportunity. Date: 02/10/2023

Session Overview from Ilakku Management:

During the session, he emphasized the importance of placing responsibility on adults to prevent child sexual abuse, while also providing children with skills to protect themselves. Here are some tips that he shared: It is important to actively participate in your children's lives by learning about their activities and the people they associate with. Stay vigilant for potential problems. Keep an eye out for adults who exhibit signs of "grooming" behavior, such as frequently finding ways to be alone with your child, disregarding your child's need for privacy (such as in the bathroom), or giving gifts or money for no apparent reason. Furthermore, ensure that organizations, groups, and teams your children are involved with limit one-on-one interactions between children and adults. Ask about staff and volunteer screening and supervision.

It is important to ensure that your children feel comfortable talking to you about anything that may be bothering or confusing them. It's also crucial to teach children the correct names for their private body parts, as well as the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touches. Encourage your children to make decisions regarding their bodies, such as saying "no" when they don't want to be touched by others, even if it's non-sexual. It is also important to teach children to take care of their own bodies, such as using the bathroom or taking a bath, so they don't have to rely on adults or older children. Lastly, educate your children on the difference between good secrets, such as birthday surprises, and bad secrets that make them feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

As a responsible parent, it’s important to monitor your children’s use of technology, such as cell phones, social networking sites, and messaging apps. Regularly review their contact lists and ask about any unfamiliar individuals. Always trust your instincts when it comes to leaving your child with someone. If you suspect sexual abuse, don’t hesitate to ask questions.

If your child confides in you about being abused, remain calm, listen attentively, and never blame the child. Thank them for sharing and report the abuse immediately. Remember that you can protect your children from sexual abuse by being involved in their lives and teaching them safety skills.

There are certain signs that may indicate sexual abuse, such as unexplained pain, itching, or bleeding in the genital area, increased nightmares or bedwetting, withdrawn behavior or appearing to be in a trance, angry outbursts or sudden mood swings, loss of appetite or difficulty swallowing, anxiety or depression, sudden avoidance of certain people or places, and sexual knowledge, language, or behavior that is unusual for the child’s age. These signs should not be ignored.

Regards,

team aaythaSiragugal