Chapter 11 Promoting Children’s Safety Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 219 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 percent of child abusers are strangers to the children they abuse. The other 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. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 23 percent of perpetrators are children under the age of 18. 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. Assaults are reported for girls 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.