Safety of children from harassment
Who doesn’t want his/her child to be safe and secure?
As the days are passing by, we all are becoming frightened for the safety of our children because of the continuous increase in physical abuse in our surroundings day in and day out. The modern world is blackened by the human traffickers and the filthy molesters. The TV and newspapers are covered by the furious news of sexual harassment every day.
In fact, many of us are bearing the personal wrath of sexual harassment that splits us from our innocent souls. The stories never come to the forefront because of the hypocrite society, and, we haven’t got any justice.
Both girls and boys are not safe from the harassment zone.
Shocking revelations by the Government of India- A 2007 survey has shown that over 53% of children are facing sexual harassment. The study covered various forms of child abuse, like sexual, physical and emotional, and neglecting the female children. Every two out of three children are sexually abused. As per Renuka Chowdhury, women and child development minister, the ministry is taking action on a new law for child protection right by precise specifications of the offenses against the children and hardening the punishments.
Source — The Times of India (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Over-53-children-face-sexual-abuse-Survey/articleshow/1881344.cms)
We can arm our children with adequate knowledge for saving them from being sexually victimized. Usually, we do not discuss body safety in the earlier stage. We think that our little kids won’t understand it as they are very young. But, it does not have to be a horrific conversation. It is better to provide them the concept before anything bad happens.
I am presenting you some important points to follow:-
1) Say ‘NO.’
Tell your kid: — “Say a firm ‘NO’ if anyone asks anything that makes you uncomfortable.” Denying the adults or peers is okay if he/she feels wrong.
Though they can’t clarify many things as adults do, yet they can sense good or bad. If your kid is very young as a toddler, you can teach him/her the trick to leave the unusual situation by giving the excuse of the potty.
2) Private body parts
Your child should know that some body parts are not meant to be seen by everybody. Explain that only mom can see them and touch them naked. No other person should do the same. He/ she must understand that they should be exposed to the public with the clothes on. Teach them about the body parts that are private, and nobody should touch them there in schools, roads, parks and even in the home. Your child’s body belongs to him or her only. Nobody has the authority to make him/her uneasy.
A video that you must watch:
3) Tips for older children
Your adolescent girl or boy is in the high risk of being molested or raped. Talk about:
A: Verbal harassment like rumors, comments, taunting, jokes, etc.
B: Physical harassment like kissing or touching without consents.
C: Cyber harassment like social media posts, emails, pictures, text messages.
D: Unwanted behavior like stalking, following or asking for repeated dates in spite of being rejected.
E: Nonverbal attitudes like wrong gestures, writing sexually free things about others, photo shopping others’ pictures with sexual enhancements, showing film actors’ nude photos, etc.
Get them learn to handle adverse situations.
- They can tell their guardian whom they trust the most.
- They must use the words “sexual harassment” instead of “bullying” or “disturbances.”
- They can take notes on the occurrence, place, time and day for the police investigation.
- They must report it to the school or parents.
- The incidents must reach the cops, and legal actions should be taken.
- Stop them from hiding their pains.
4) Self defense
Think! Your daughter is returning home from school, and some teasers attacked her. Instead of shouting for help, she bit those goons blue and black and handed them over to police. How is that?
Sounds good? This can be your story too. Involve your children in a self-defense class for saving themselves aptly when needed.
5) Difference between love and lust
Teens often become confused between love and lust. The puberty can lead to the feelings of both love and lust. Attraction towards opposite genders is normal. As parents, you need to teach them what is right and what is harmful.
6) Sex education
Nowadays, governments of many countries have taken the initiation of incorporating sex education in schools for providing the proper knowledge about sexual relationships and harassments. This is quite beneficial for the students to understand what to allow others and what not.
7) Tell your male child to respect female peers
In many households, a male child is given the priorities over female children. This is nonsensical. Both should be treated equally with opportunities. Ask your boy to respect women and treat them gently.
8) Believe your kid
If you notice signs of depression, sadness, irritation, anger or fear suddenly in your child, immediately find the reason behind it as it can happen due to abusement. Ask him/her questions related to harassment. Be friendly. If you find any criminal activity behind it, immediately go to three people- police, doctor, and counselor.
A national award winning short film to watch:
The broken hearts can never heal entirely. The world is becoming worse day by day. Our child must know the emergency numbers and addresses of a police station, hospital, home, etc. We must not keep our kids under anyone else’s supervision, not even relatives.
