How to Stop Child Abuse ?

Again, as I have mentioned in the section on prevention of child abuse this is a very difficult task. Realistically, we will never stop child abuse, just as we cannot stop natural disasters. We are able to prepare for oncoming floods, snowstorms, and hurricanes. Preparing our children for life trauma is not an easy task. We all want to protect them from bad choices and guide them in the right direction. We can however educate children with open communication, trusting their instincts without inducing paranoia and hyper-vigilance.

There has been much controversy about, good touch, bad touch, education. What age should the child be introduced to this lesson? Who is allowed to bathe the child, it is OK if the health care provider has to look or examine. The emotional maturity of the child must be taken in consideration. As well as the parental presentation, and how they deliver the message.

We must teach and educate without inducing fear and creating stranger phobia. We want our children to know there are many good people in the world at the same time, know when to communicate when situations go awry.

My dream is that we start out early educating our children. Role modeling good parental discipline with love and nurturance. This will carry over to the next generation. Parents who become so angry that they emotionally berate a child or they are physically assaultive are all forms of abuse. One does not have to actually touch a child to be abusive. Appropriate expression of anger is very important. The emotion “anger” gets a bad rap in our society. It is associated with emotional and physical violence. to another.

By educating our children on communication techniques,on realistic awareness of strangers not the old ,”stranger danger” mantra we can empower them to be stronger and hopefully avoid further abusive environments. Our children need to have a foundation of good values role modeled by the parents and have a safe harbor for them to go to.

Recognize their feelings, never diminish or minimize how one is truly feeling. Only through work, and effort will this take place. Then we can hope through future generations we can make a dent in the ugliness of child abuse.

How the book,Above His Shoulders will help:

In my book I specifically discuss the lack of prevention and why I, as well as many sexually abused children do not disclose.  Even though my parents had awesome values, and my father was my emotional ladder. I still was reluctant to disclose. This book will help others learn from my mistakes, and I hope will help others to disclose earlier on in their life.

Become a fan on facebook. See the photographs of the actual oak tree and the authors home, as well as a sneak peak at the new book. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Above-His-Shoulders/274131107309?ref=nf