April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

April Is Child Abuse
Awareness Month...

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since April 10, 1998.

April is Child Abuse Awareness month. Here are some of my thoughts on what people can do during Child Abuse Awareness month:

Children are wonders, who should be nurtured and cared for. There is NOTHING a child could possibly due to deserve the abuse some parents consider "discipline", or to have a parent beat them severely because of uncontrolled rage on the part of the parent:(

If you're a parent having a problem staying in control of your anger and taking it out on your kids, or are worried that you might - GET HELP. Join a support group, talk with other parents or call a hotline in your area. (1-800-4ACHILD provides help to parents as well as children) If you have reason to believe a child you know is being abused - REPORT IT. (1-8004ACHILD or your local Child Abuse hotline/police department)

If you know the child well enough (i.e., if you're their relative, teacher, etc.) let them know that they can talk to you and that you will help them. If a child you know tells you they are being abused - BELIEVE THEM.

EDUCATE your own children about Child Abuse, and make sure they know what kind of touching, secrets, games etc. are OK and which ones are NOT OK. Kids don't only get abused by their parents or molested by strangers - they can be abused by relatives, family friends, neighbors, babysitters and other "trusted" grownups:(

Let your child know that it is OK to say NO to an adult who asks them to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable, and that they have a right to say no to kisses, hugs, etc. from people they do not want to hug, kiss or otherwise touch their bodies (even if that means offending ugly Aunt Tillie with the chin whiskers:) Let them know that if anyone asks them to "play secret games" and says "don't tell anyone", that they are to TELL YOU about it, EVEN if the person threatens to hurt Mommy and Daddy if they tell. Make sure they know NOT to go anywhere alone with ANYONE they don't know well, and if someone tries to force them to go with them, tell them to yell, to scream "STRANGER!!!" and to RUN. (This actually saved a kid from a stranger in a movie theatre who grabbed him in a restroom and tried to force him to leave the theatre with him.)

Wear a blue ribbon, or put a blue ribbon on your car antenna, desk at work, wherever. If someone asks what it's for, let them know that it's for Child Abuse Awareness month.

Another site with well-researched facts and information about child abuse from a Children's Services worker's point of view can be found at Blue Ribbons.

Let's all try to do *something* this month. No matter how small you think it may be, ANYTHING you can do to educate, or increase someone's awareness of Child Abuse helps break the cycle.

If you are a child being abused, a parent concerned about potentially abusing your child, or if you suspect a child is being abused...
CALL and TELL SOMEONE!!!
The National Child Abuse Hotline Number is
1-800-4ACHILD

Other Links of Interest

Signs of Child Abuse
Nurturing Your Child's Development
31 Days of Nourishing Your Children's Spirits
National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse Home Page

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