Teach 10 Ways to Protect Child From Molestation, Rape

The bone-chilling gruesome rape and murder of an 8-year-old child Asifa, has once again raised the question “Is my child safe?”. So what do you do as a parent? Only teaching your child the preventive measures are the only ways to protect them from this insane sexual abuse, attack, and potential rape. Read on to know more about how potential attacks and rape can be avoided. Teach your child the preventive measures you and your child should take to protect from sexual abuse, attack and potential rape.

Preventive Measures to Protect Child from Child Assault, Abuse & more 

Here are some preventive measures you and your child should take to protect your child from attack and potential rape.

1. Speak-up

   The majority of rapes are committed by a person the victim knows. Encourage your child to share little details with you. Lend an ear to your child, listen to what s/he wants to tell you. Don’t make your child feel like they cannot talk to you about things. Most boys and girls do not speak about these evil acts because of this fear. Remember, lack of communication between you and your child gives power to the perpetrator

2. Assure Your Child

   When this gruesome act is committed by a child’s brother, cousin, friend, father, uncle, aunt or a known person, the child often feels that their parent won’t believe him/her. Assure your child that sexual abuse is never their fault. Always believe your child and help your child to get out of that situation

3. Make Your Child Aware of Surroundings At All Times

   A child can sense danger. Teach your child to immediately tell you or call you (if they are old enough to carry a phone) whenever s/he feels that something is not right, could be about the situation or the person. Timely action can prevent potential abuse. Read how to educate a child to identify child abuse and report as it happens.

4. Never Trust a Stranger

   This is something you could teach your child as a Life-hack. If you ever leave your child at home alone for some time and you cannot find someone else to take care of him/her, make sure that you talk to them before leaving: Tell them to never open the door no matter who’s the visitor. You’re your child to never give any information about s/he is being alone at home to anyone. [Read: How to be Safe from Strangers?]

5. Stick with your friends

   It’s always better to go out with a group of friends than alone. Ask your child to always stick with his/her friends, and to never go somewhere without informing you or another family member

6. Be Assertive

   Coach your child that if somebody is giving them unwanted attention or making unusual advances, they should ask that person to back off assertively, even if it’s somebody they know

7. Know if it is good to touch or bad touch

   Sit with your daughter and son and tell them about good touch and bad touch. The more aware they are the safer they’ll be

8. Keep your eyes and ears open

   If your child takes the bus or rickshaw from school, advised her not to fall asleep while she rides back home, and asks her to keep a check if the driver is taking her to the right place or not. Show her some landmarks, shops, houses which she should look for in case she feels the driver is taking her somewhere else or taking an unfamiliar route. S/he should intimate you or another family member and should stick to her friends on the bus.

9. Ask for help and help others

   Encourage your child to ask for help and to help others. If your child ever finds herself in danger, she should ask for help. Also, ask your child to help others if they see someone in a situation like this. If s/he is not capable to help then s/he should ask someone else to help. Scream, shout, run, hide, but your child should not stay silent. [Read - About what legal actions against child abuse & harassment parents should take]

10. Keep in touch with friends and parents:

    A child may be closer to his/her friends than, to their parents. If you feel your child is disturbed and acting weird, ask her friends and her friends’ parent in case they know of something

Talking about rape and sexual abuse is perhaps still a taboo. It’s time to talk about it to our child. It’s time to role model and coaches your daughter that her safety is in her own hands. Remember rape is never a victim’s fault. You may not be there to protect your child at all times, but coaching them is perhaps as or more valuable for their safety. Don’t wait for another day to speak to your child.

Did you like the 10 preventive measures? Have you tried any already? Have you got any other tips you would like to share with fellow parents; pls do mention in the comments section below, we’d love to hear from you!