Rafael Nunez Aponte: Learn How to Keep Your Children Safe

Control what your children see online

As you know, having Internet connection at home can be really helpful or a harmful tool. Check these easy tips to control what your children watch on their computer at home in order to help you preventing child sexual abuse and to protect all your family members. Today, we will show you the most important tips to be protected:

First, consider that you should avoid the problem. So, start by preparing the members of your family, specially your children, in order to be protected before the problem or the attack comes to them and talk about the issue.

Talk about it: children often keep the abuse in secret. This is because abusers manipulate and confuse children in order to make them believe that what they are doing is normal or even a game. Always talk about child abuse to your children, adapting the conversation to a child speech to remove the barrier of silence.

Talk about the topic

Stay alert: give a careful credit to different signs such as irritation, swelling or rash on the genitals, urinary tract infections, and even other problems like abdominal pain or headaches result of anxiety. It is also very important to recognize emotional signs such as withdrawal or depression, excessive self-imposed, unexplained anger or rebellion problems.

Once on the Internet…

Protect computers with passwords. To install a password for accessing to all devices will allow you to control the use of Internet at home.

Be always alert

Do not share personal information. Control personal data requested by children’s pages and pay attention to those that ask for personal information. Talk to your child for he/she understands the dangers about providing certain information publicly and also discuss about sweepstakes and promotions online.

Control the use of chats and messaging programs. Chats, social networks and instant messaging services can be the means that children use to share interests and build friendships. Nevertheless, the anonymity of the Internet can put children in the way of abusers or imposters.

Protect your family

Rafael Nunez Aponte: Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse can be defined as all sexual activities between an adult and an under-age person when the adult exerts power over the child either by force, coercion or persuasion. This is considered as a crime punishable by law and also an action with severe repercussions on the abuser of the victim. 

The statistics and numbers regarding this topic are alarming according to some organizations such as CPIU, which is in charge of educating and helping children and their families about child sexual abuse. This problem is more common than we think, this is why we should keep this information below to prevent child sexual abuse and safeguard the childhood and the innocence in our children.

7 steps to prevent child sexual abuse

Information inspired in the guide created by RANA

·         Know the facts: it’s important to know that abusers often try to find a trustful relationship with the parents of the victims. Do not forget that anyone can be an abuser. A third of the victims are abused by family members, so be aware of those who are close.

·         Reduce risks: this type of abuse often occurs when an adult is alone with the child. Be always present or try to establish situations in which they can be observed by others. Monitor the use of Internet at home.

·         Talk about the topic: Avoid taboo. Talk about child abuse to your children, removing the barrier of silence about the topic. Abusers can manipulate and confuse children to make them believe the abuse is normal or a game.

·         Stay alert: see the origin of different signs such as irritation, swelling, or rash on the genitals, urinary tract infections, abdominal pain or headaches. Recognize emotional signs like withdrawal or depression, self-imposed, anger or rebellion. Sexual behavior is atypical at short ages.

·         Be informed: don’t express disbelief or anger. This makes the child try to justify the abuse and avoid questions.

·         Act when you’re suspicious: denounce and contact social services.

·         Get involved: fight against abuse by supporting laws and organizations to combat child sexual abuse.