What should you do if you think a child is being abused?

Is a child being abused?

What if you are not sure whether a child is being abused or not?

Things you can say to help keep your child safe:

• your child has the right to be safe - reassure your child that they will not be punished if they say they feel unsafe or threatened in any way by any person (including family members)

• the truth will always be believed - encourage your child to tell you if anything is making them feel uncomfortable, confused or scared (children rarely lie about abuse)

• their body is their own - talk to your child about the areas that should be covered (swimsuit areas) and encourage them to tell you if anyone tries to go beyond these boundaries

• say 'no' - children often think they have to do whatever an adult tells them to, particularly if they have been made to hug or kiss adults when they don't want to

• some secrets should never be kept - since abusers and bullies often say 'it's our secret' or even threaten the safety of other family members, tell your child that secrets like that should never be kept reassure your child that no harm will come to them or their loved ones if they tell the truth about abuse

• if a stranger tries to talk to your child, tell your child to pretend not to hear them and go to you immediately

These two last tips cover all sorts of situations:

• tell your child it is okay to break the rules if they are in danger - encourage your child to yell, kick, scream, lie or run away if they feel they are in danger

• have a code word or sign that only your child and you (and another parent/carer) know - if your child needs to be collected, they can give that person the code