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REPORTING CHILD ABUSE:
If there is an emergency please call "911" immediately.
If you need to report a case of child abuse or neglect, please call the
Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE
Personal Safety Tips For Parents:
- Discuss personal safety issues with your child and tailor the message to your child’s age and development level. This is a lifelong conversation.
- Teach your child that safety rules apply to everyone at all times. Over 90% of offenders are not strangers to their victims.
- Don’t force your child to hug or kiss anyone. Giving children control over their bodies reinforces that they have the right to determine how and when they are touched.
- Give your child permission to be ugly and impolite if they are uncomfortable. Practice yelling with your child (it can be fun) – from their toes to the top of their head – when they need to get the attention of a safe adult. Do not let fear of rudeness compromise safety.
- Be knowledgeable of your child’s surroundings and of those who spend time with your child. (This should include your child’s on-line community.)
- Listen to your intuition and validate your child’s.
- Help children develop confidence and assertiveness skills. Have fun together practicing verbal and nonverbal responses – stand tall, maintain eye contact, use a firm voice. Say “No, get away." Keep yelling until you get help – and play “what if” games to practice decision making.
- Teach your child accurate vocabulary for body parts to ensure clear communication and decrease embarrassment.
- Approach personal safety in the same straightforward manner that you use with other types of safety.
- Repeat personal safety guidelines often.
- Reach out to community resources, like CPC, for information, education and support.
Informed children are safer children.
Informed parents are proactive parents.
Child Protection Center, Inc.
(941)365-1277
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