Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety
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Protection Education
Planning for children’s safety goes beyond
the classroom. Children need to learn how to
deal with dangers outside the classroom. They
must learn about sexual abuse and how to protect
themselves from it.
Warning children about strangers has been a
common practice for some time. However, only 10
to 15 percent of child abusers are strangers to the
children they abuse. The other 85 to 90 percent
are people known to the children. These people
may be neighbors, relatives, friends of the family,
scout leaders, siblings, or parents. Most offenders
are men, but women are also reported.
Before age eight, 3.0 to 4.6 percent of all
children are sexually assaulted. About 10 percent
of these children are assaulted by the time they
are fi ve years old. Girls are reported as victims
far more often than boys. Studies show that race,
intelligence, family income, and social class do not
appear to affect the occurrence of sexual assault.
Teach children to resist sexual attacks. They
must fi rst resist the offender by saying no. Then
they must tell a trusted friend or relative about the
attack. Role-play this process with the children.
Give them phrases to use if they fi nd themselves in
trouble. The following are examples:
• If someone tries to give you a wet kiss,
shake hands instead.
• If someone tries to get you to sit on his or
her lap and you do not want to, say “No,
not now.”
• If someone wants to give you a hug and
you do not want it, say “No thanks.”
• If someone tries to touch your genitals,
say “Stop. That is not okay.”
• If someone rubs or pats your bottom, say
“Do not do that.”
Figure 11.11 As mandated reporters, child care staff are required by law to report suspected cases of abuse
or neglect.