The National Children’s Alliance says that one in four girls is at risk of being sexually abused before they turn 18. Sexual abuse happens to one out of every thirteen boys prior to him turning 18. Parents’ worst fear is to discover that someone has harmed their child in one way or another.
In view of such situations, feelings of being overwhelmed, bewilderment, and anger are understandable. Knowing what to do if someone touches your child inappropriately can help you protect them, get justice, and help them heal emotionally.
Let’s discuss how you can help a child go through a trauma and stand up for their rights.
Stay Calm and Listen to Your Child
If your child ever tells you about someone touching them inappropriately, simply listen. Kids will share more of their narrative if they think the person listening really cares about them.
Tell your youngster how brave they were to talk about or explain what happened. Say that from now on, they will be safe with you.
Don’t judge or ask any questions that would make the child feel bad. Allow the child to guide the discussion. If you do this, it will definitely encourage their belief in you, and the trust between the two of you will make him/her feel comfortable in the future.
Staying calm will help the situation stay stable.
Ensure Immediate Safety and Report the Incident
Once your child has narrated their experiences, you need to take steps to keep them safe immediately. Distance them from any danger by removing them from that person involved.
Make sure that you will build a safe space that runs deep into your child’s soul, and then let them know they have done the right thing by telling you what happened.
Assure your child that the law will not take sex abuse lightly. According to law firm website https://www.ohiocriminaldefenselawfirm.com/, sex crimes involving children are considered the most severe, and can lead to many years in prison if there is a conviction in the case.
Report the case to either the police or child protection services. Keep records of all the dates and times when this incident occurred in detail. These materials will be useful for any investigation of what happened.
Do not hesitate to reach out even to your child’s school or daycare so that they are aware of the situation. The measures above will keep your child safe and hold the abuser accountable.
Seek Professional Support and Counseling
It’s important to your child’s emotional healing after such a bad experience to get therapy and professional help. A counselor with a lot of expertise would give your child a secure space to talk about their feelings and anxieties.
They would help your child to process the event and set up adaptive coping methods. Look for experts in trauma and child psychology, as the specific needs of young survivors are best understood by them.
Counseling will also help you as a parent by training you to support your child properly.
Understand the Legal Process and Your Rights
Understanding the laws and the legal process is important after your child’s experience.
- Report the incident to the authorities to start an investigation.
- You should collect evidence to support your case: documents, any communication, or any witnesses. Child protection and sexual offenses legislation vary quite a bit from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, so it is wise to familiarize yourself with the local law.
- You can get a lawyer to help you and look out for your child’s best interests. If there is an emergency situation in which the child is in immediate danger, a protection order is pursued.
Focus on Healing and Rebuilding Trust
Put healing and teaching the kid how to trust again first. Both parent and child must contribute equally to this effort.
It’s important to get treatment, whether it’s from a counselor who has worked with trauma situations before or someone else. The therapy or treatment can provide your child the skills they need to deal with problems in their lives and the circumstances.
Do things they like to do together. It is important to be patient during this challenging period.
Continue to heal with the child by talking to the child, making room for the safe expression of feelings, obtaining the support of professionals, etc. You are never alone; both of you need support, and some professionals can assist in this healing process. Standing in healing and rebuilding trust, you will be able to return safety and assurance to the child.
