Holly Dotson, LPC-Supervisor, DCAC Director of Clinical Services
The holidays can be a magical time of year, and while we hope the holidays bring kids and families joy, they can also bring an increase in unsafe situations for children. Breaks in the school year can often increase a potential perpetrator’s access to children without adult supervision, which may increase opportunities to perpetrate abuse.
Here are some tips to help parents and caregivers ensure children are safe during the holiday season.
- TALK WITH YOUR CHILD. The best way to help prevent abuse and ensure that your child feels comfortable sharing when something may have happened to them is to talk with them.
- Trust your gut. If something seems wrong, report it. It is always better to make a report and for CPS to discover nothing is wrong than to have unreported abuse.
- Use proper names for body parts and respect your child’s personal body boundaries. With family coming into town or the potential of photos with holiday icons, it’s important that you do not force your child to hug others or sit in someone’s lap. Allowing your child to choose who they hug and touch teaches them that it is okay to say “no” when someone touches them in a way they don’t like.
- Teach your child the difference between secrets and surprises. A holiday gift is a fun surprise, but there is no reason an adult should be keeping secrets with a child, especially when that secret involves harmful activities or unsafe touches.
- Speak with your children about being careful with what they share online. They should not send any pictures, locations, or other information that would identify them or their location. Monitor the chats yourself. Parents are responsible for knowing who their children are talking to and whether the content of the conversation is safe.
- Help identify safe people. Have conversations about what your child should do if someone approaches them in person or online in a way that feels uncomfortable, confusing, or inappropriate.
- Believe them. If your child does share something with you, it is important that you stay calm in the moment and praise your child for bringing it to your attention. Always call the authorities or your local police to make a report, rather than confronting the alleged perpetrator.
For more information on keeping your child safe over the holidays, click here!
Cheers to a safe and happy holiday season!
