5 Steps to Protect Your Children

We all want to keep the children in our life safe — but sometimes, it can be hard to know where to start. In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Center for Child Protection is teaching parents and caregivers best practices for child safety.

Located in East Austin, the Centerprovides free forensic, therapy, and medical services to children across Travis County who have experience abuse or witnessed a violent crime. In an effort to end child abuse completely, the Center also offers free monthly prevention trainings to the community.

One of those trainings, “5 Steps to Protecting Our Kids,” explores ways to prevent, recognize, and respond to child sexual abuse. Let’s take a closer look at those 5 Steps and how each one can help you protect children in your life.

Step 1: Learn the Facts

Child sexual abuse is more prevalent than we realize. To address the issue, we need to understand the reality and the risks.

• 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. ⁽¹⁾ 
• 90% of child sexual abuse is committed by someone the child knows and trusts. ⁽¹⁾
• 3 out of 5 children never disclose their sexual abuse. ⁽²⁾ 
• 40% of minors have been asked to send a nude picture of themselves. ⁽³⁾

Step 2: Minimize Opportunity

Minimize 1-on-1 Situations: The best way to prevent child sexual abuse is by reducing isolated, 1-on-1 interactions and making sure your child’s interactions with adults (or even older children) are observable and interruptible.

Verify Safe Environments: It’s important to research and vet the safety of schools, camps, childcare providers, and other organizations that will have access to your child.

Monitor Online Activity: Make sure parental controls and safety features are turned on, monitor your child’s online activity, and stay informed about online child safety risks.

Step 3: Talk About It

In-Person Interactions: Teach your child the proper names for body parts, talk to them about personal boundaries, and reinforce that your child has the right to say “no” to physical touch.

Online Interactions: Talk to your child, frequently, about online safety. Teach them to NEVER share their real name or location with strangers, accept friend/follow requests from people they don’t know, or post photos of themselves not fully clothed.

Step 4: Recognize the Signs

Many children will not show signsof sexual abuse, but there are some red flags you can watch for.

• Changes in behavior, sleeping, eating, school performance, or personal hygiene.
• Fear of certain places, people, or a specific gender.
• Inappropriate sexual behaviors.
• Sexual knowledge beyond the child’s age.
• Unexplained injuries or evidence of injury in the genital area.
• Difficulty walking or sitting.

Step 5: React Responsibly

If a child discloses abuse, it’s important to respond in a way that makes them feel safe and supported without causing any additional trauma.

DO:

• Believe them.
• Remain calm.
• Allow them to talk.
• Show concern and support for their feelings.
• Assure them they did the right thing by telling you.
• Make a report within 48 hours.

DON’T:

• Panic or overreact.
• Ask a lot of questions or press for details.
• Promise things you can’t control.
• Confront the offender.
• Blame or minimize the child’s feelings.
• Assume someone else will make a report.

Reporting:

• A disclosure isn’t necessary — suspected abuse is enough to make a report.
• Reports must be made within 48 hours of disclosure or suspicion.
• The law does not permit the delegation of reporting — you must do it yourself.
• If you suspect abuse, you can make your report to the Child Abuse Hotline by calling 1-800-252-5400 or at www.txabusehotline.org.

Next Steps

Education is the key to ending child abuse, which is why the Center for Child Protection provides FREE education trainings for parents, teachers, professionals, and community members. To see our upcoming webinars or request a training, visit centerforchildprotection.org/education.

To learn more about the Center and what we’re doing to prevent child abuse in our community visit ProtectAustinKids.org.

Sources

⁽¹⁾ Darkness to Light, 2024

⁽²⁾ Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc., 2024

⁽³⁾ Thorn, 2022