According to the Gottman Institute, approximately 63,000 people under the age of 12 are victims of sexual abuse annually. 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before they turn 18. One of the most effective ways of preventing abuse from occurring is to educate children in age appropriate ways about consent and body autonomy.

This article details the most effective ways to implement these teachings: Beyond the Talk: Teaching Your Kids About Consent

This subject is a personal mission for me as consent and personal boundaries were not something that existed within my home and I believe this made me a target for sexual abuse. I have spent a lot of time with friends and family encouraging them to educate their own children on these topics and have worked with several local organizations on educational campaigns regarding this subject.

Have you had these conversations with your own children? What challenges have you experienced with discussing this subject? What was useful? Let’s talk about how we can make this a normal part of our daily discourse.

#PTSD #CPTSD #Trauma #SexualAbuse #Consent #bodyautonomy #Education #Parenting