Keep Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse

Helping Parents of Sexually Abused Kids

When parents of sexually abused kids discover that their child has been the victim of child molestation, it can seem like their whole world is crashing down around them—and rightfully so. Children who are victims of child molestation are more likely to suffer serious emotional and psychological scars throughout their adolescence and well into their adult lives. If they do not receive the help they need, this sex abuse could damage nearly every aspect of their lives. Keep Kids Safe is here to work with you and help your child heal from the trauma of child molestation.

Molestation Victims Are Not Alone

It is estimated that 28-30% of women and 12-18% of men were victims of child sex abuse. The impact of that abuse follows them throughout their lives, leaving an indelible imprint on everyone around them. Within victims, there are much higher occurrences of:

  • Substance abuse
  • Sexual & relationship problems
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Suicide

The emotional scars of child molestation do not easily fade and often impact the child as they grow into an adult, their adult relationships, and even the relationships with their own children. Unfortunately, victims of childhood sex abuse are much more likely to find themselves in dysfunctional or even abusive adult relationships. Keep Kids Safe is here to help parents of sexually abused kids and adult victims of child sex abuse.

Helping Your Child Recover from Sex Abuse

Parents of sexually abused kids should seek help from a multitude of sources—physicians, counselors, psychologists, and attorneys. They should also closely monitor their child for signs of suicide, depression, anxiety, or eating disorders. This takes time and dedication—and it takes an enormous amount of education.

It is important to understand how and why child sexual abuse shapes a child for a lifetime. The long-term effects of child sexual abuse can follow survivors throughout life, disguised as a difficulty adjusting to or coping with the responsibilities of normal adulthood.

At the same time it is important to understand how and why child sexual abuse shapes a child for a lifetime. The long-term effects of child sexual abuse can follow survivors throughout life, disguised as a difficulty adjusting to or coping with the responsibilities of normal adulthood.

The emotional scars of child molestation do not easily fade and often impact the child as they grow into an adult, their adult relationships, and even the relationships with their own children. Unfortunately, victims of childhood sex abuse are much more likely to find themselves in dysfunctional or even abusive adult relationships.

For families trying to understand how to best support a child that has experienced sexual abuse, it’s important to note that children who are disbelieved, blamed, or ostracized experience a greater sense of betrayal than those who are supported, believed, and shown understanding.

For families trying to understand how to best support a child that has experienced sexual abuse, it’s important to note that children who are disbelieved, blamed, or ostracized experience a greater sense of betrayal than those who are supported, believed, and shown understanding.

Allow Keep Kids Safe to provide you with the support and guidance if you or your child are struggling to heal after childhood sex abuse.

Help a Sex Abuse Victim by Speaking Up

The general misconception is that child predators are disheveled, dirty looking older men who drive around offering children candy. Even knowing that 93% of molestations are performed by someone within a family’s circle of trust, it’s difficult to shake the idea that well-groomed, middle-class women and men can be a risk to your child.

Because the process of grooming molestation victims takes time, awareness is key. By simply learning the stages that lead up to molestation, you can protect your child from bonding with someone who means them eventual harm.

You should speak up and ask questions if you encounter a young child who exhibits any of the following signs:

  • Acting out in an inappropriate sexual way with toys or objects
  • Regressing to younger behaviors, e.g. bedwetting
  • New adult words for body parts and no obvious source
  • Talk of a new, older friend and unexplained money or gifts
  • Self-harm (cutting, burning or other harmful activities)
  • Physical signs, such as, unexplained soreness or bruises around genitals or mouth, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy

Learn more about recognizing child molestation signs.

Justice for Child Molestation Victims

Parents of sexually abused kids need to be educated on their legal rights and responsibilities—so that they can hold the abuser, and the organization that sheltered the abuser, responsible for these atrocities. Civil action may need to be taken and criminal charges must be filed to prevent another child from suffering the same fate. Download our free Guide to Selecting an Attorney for Your Sexually Abused Child.

Browse through our Keep Kids Safe website and learn how to help your child receive the help he or she needs to heal. At Keep Kids Safe, you can learn about:

Look to Keep Kids Safe for the support and guidance for parents of sexually abused kids who are struggling to heal after sex abuse.