First Witness Child Abuse Prevention Month
- April is child abuse prevention month
- First Witness Open House – Thursday, April 12th 4-8 PM
- At First Witness Child Abuse Resource Center
- 4 west 5th street Duluth
- Kids activities, bubbles, planting flowers
- Hot cocoa/cookies/lemonade served
- Free & open to the public
- First witness Child abuse resource center all day event on the Lakewalk on April 30th
- Sponsor a blue kids figurine to be placed around the lakewalk with your name on it starting at just $20
- go to firstwitness.org for more information
First Witness is building a community that stands together against child abuse, so no child stands alone. For more information visit First Witness at www.firstwitness.org or call 218-727-8353
- Allow your child(ren) to decide how to say hello and goodbye to family and friends. If your child(ren) doesn’t want to hug or kiss, offer handshakes or high-fives!
- It is normal for your child(ren) to ask questions about their body. When a child does have questions, be calm, receptive, and encourage them to continue coming to you in the future.
- Let your child(ren) set boundaries for their body and respect these boundaries. If your child(ren) doesn’t like tickles or back rubs, teach them it is okay to say no to these touches from anyone including adults.
- Children are vulnerable to abuse because they rely on adults for care. As parents or caring adults we can’t protect children from everything. However, we can come together to educate ourselves on effective prevention.
- Help your child(ren) identify 5 trusted adults to whom they can turn for help. Include adults at school, in the neighborhood or in your faith community.
- Encourage your child(ren) to trust their instincts about unsafe situations. If a situation feels unsafe or risky, trust that it is and give them ways to get out.
- Teach children not to give out their email address or phone number while using the internet.
- Teach children that no one should ask them to keep secrets about body touches and secret body touches are unsafe.
- Get to know the important adult in your child(ren)s life. i.e. teachers, coaches, group leaders and daycare providers.
- Children should know that no one should touch their private body parts unless they are keeping them clean, safe, or healthy.
- Educate other family members about the guidelines you have set up for your children regarding their body and privacy.
- Learn who to report child abuse disclosures to in your community
- Place your computer in a public space in your home so that you can keep an eye on your child(ren)s internet usage.
- Speak up when you see inappropriate behavior between adults and children.
- Educate yourself on alternatives to physical discipline.
- Find a support network for yourself to help you manage and ease the stress of raising children.
- If a child tells you they have been abused, believe them. Thank them for telling you and call for help.
- The most important thing you can do with children in your life is to make sure they feel comfortable talking to you. This will help tell you if someone is hurting them or is scaring them.
- When speaking to your child(ren) about safety, remember that children are most often abused by family members or people known to the family. Stranger danger should not be your only focus.
- Learn about ways adults manipulate and rick children in order to abuse them.
- Don’t be afraid to take a “parent time out” if you feel like you may hurt your child.
First Witness Open House
April 12, 2012 4:00pm- 8:00pm
4 West 5th Street Duluth MN 55806
Family fun, educational info, and tours
I Stand With Kids
April 30,2012 7:00am-7:00pm
Come see your sponsored Blue Kids Figure at the lakewalk.