Because most children won't tell you that they have been sexually abused it is important for parents and other adults to recognize the behaviors that may indicate that a child has been sexually assaulted.

Look For These Signs

• Noticeable change in the child's feelings, awareness of and behavior towards sexuality.
• Sudden interest in or knowledge about sex, and/or strong reactions to physical contact - withdrawal or excessive sexual play. The child may simulate sexual behavior or may actually engage in sexual behavior with other children.
• Regressing to early childhood behaviors. These behaviors may include abrupt and significant negative changes in sleeping habits, eating, bowel and bladder control.
• Negative changes in school performance: disciplinary problems, avoiding assignments, and /or change in social relationships/behaviors: withdrawal or aggression.
• Signs of emotional stress: worry, fear, (over) sensitivity, nervousness,irritability, anger and depression. There may also be physical or health problems brought on by stress.

What to do

• Remain calm and unemotional. If you get upset when the child tells  
• Be sure to tell the child that he or she did the right thing by telling you what happened.
• Tell the child that you are sorry about what happened to her or him.
• Tell the child that this unfortunately has happened to many other children.
• Reassure the child that having kept this a secret does not make her or him a bad person.
• Guilt about the abuse is a common feeling for children. Therefore, it is important to reassure them over and over that it was not their fault. Explain that the person who did this to them has a problem and needs to get help. That person's behavior was against the law.

 

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