Topic : 08/04 Biggest Parenting Problems

Teaching only stranger danger to your kids is irresponsible.  More children are abused by somebody they know than by a stranger.  A better policy would be to discuss with your child inappropriate touching, and the right to say NO.  Let your child know that if somebody tries to touch their private parts that you want him/her to tell you.  The child is never to blame when abuse happens.  You can't be with your child every waking moment, but you can give them the tools to protect themselves.  I was sexually abused by a relative...it never occurred to me that I had the power to say NO and to tell on him.  Nobody ever taught me that...I didn't know that it was wrong...I just felt icky...I thought I would get in trouble if I told my parents...as if I was somehow responsible for allowing it to happen.  Please educate your children about inappropriate touching as well as stranger danger.  I've been through years of counseling to try to repair the damage that was done.