To all you parents that are seeing this for the first time, we’re so excited that you are taking a stand to make a difference.
Your objective is to gain trust. First, you need to let the child know they can come to you.
Second, you can get the ball rolling:
• Request for us to go to your child’s school to implement our program and share our site.
• Read the book to and share it with them and explain that this thing happens to little children as well.
• Explain to them that the offender will threaten them if they tell their parents, but let them know that you will always believe your child if he/she comes to you, and will always protect your child from the offender.
•Inform them that this is inappropriate behavior and no one needs to touch them anywhere they don’t want them to.
Ask them, “if it is inappropriate for anyone else to touch you, do you think you can touch someone else?” Then let them answer you. Wait for their response, and reward their answer with a smile and reassuring word. You want the child to feel they can come to you for help.
We will have videos and other books for them in the future. But, for now we want you to gain their trust and have the upper hand on this. For younger children in this age group, you can practice with your child saying from another room, “Hey, don’t touch me!” loudly, and have them come to tell you. They will think it’s silly, but do try! Continue reading the book to them and asking them to role play. They need to be reassured that if something happens, you are the first person they can run to for help.
REMEMBER, you must have a kind face with love for that child, because the child will not feel safe if they sense a disbelieving look or questionable body language.