Tomorrow is The Innocence Revolution - A Global Day to End Child Sexual Abuse…

For the past twenty years, I have shared one of my favorite guides, Life’s Little Instruction Book, as part of my New Year’s Eve celebration.  The book is made up of tips and advice that help one lead a fuller, happier life.  Some of my favorites include, “resist the temptation to buy a boat” and “compliment three people a day.”  Traditionally, each person I am celebrating with adds a tip to the end of the book.  One year, my brother-in-law added, “conserve water, shower with a…

I have heard them all.  I have heard all the reasons why parents don’t discuss child sexual abuse prevention with their children.  I have heard them so often that I can recite them by heart.  As the new year approaches, I decided it would be a good idea to memorialize the top 10 reasons for not discussing the subject.  I invite you to add any that may have been omitted.

1. Children are seldom victims of sexual abuse.  Actually, according to the U.S. Centers for…

A New Way to Watch Over Them

As many of you know, I prosecute child abuse and sex crimes in New York City and wrote a book to help parents talk to their children about child sex abuse prevention called My Body Belongs to Me. In the wake of the Penn State scandal, as a prevention specialist, it is difficult to watch Sandusky get so much air time and sit idly by as the media remains silent on the subject of prevention.  As such, I am sharing with my contacts, and…

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

9 Tips to Recognize Child Sexual Abuse

How to Effectively Interiew a Sitter/Nanny

It is suggested you have at least two initial contacts with the prospective sitter/nanny, via e-mail and phone, and then two or three in-person meetings before you hire someone.  This will help ensure that the sitter/nanny/family…

3 Tips to Keep Children Safe

As a child safety advocate, I am often asked how to talk to children about safety in a non-scary way.  It is important to find the right time to talk to your child.  Look for teachable moments - an unplanned opportunity when the subject comes up or fits in.  It may be something that is going on in the news that creates the opportunity to discuss safety with your child.  Seize…

3 Tips to Keep Children Safe from Sexual Abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Oprah is doing an important

show about child abuse tomorrow (4/15/11).  The show revisits the case about a

boy who was chained in a closet by his father and stepmother.  I make an…