We all hear the statistics, the horrific stories, and the number of innocent deaths. I thought I would take a different approach to Child Abuse Awareness.
The world children/teens live in today is crazy, addictive, and controlled by Social Media/friends. Preparing your child/teen for this world has to start early and can be done in a natural more conversational way.
All those “conversations” you would like to avoid can be easily taught through their activities. Kids are fighting and saying bad things to each other on TV, take a minute to mute the show and reinforce that behavior is not acceptable and we don’t act like that. Quick conversations, not ones that get them bored and waiting to watch the show. Those little conversations will build up in the kid’s mind.
While your teen watches the news or a TV program with you, look for opportunities to ease into a learning experience. If the story is about sexual assault and they are of the age to understand, open a conversation with some low-key questions but don’t bombard them, maybe 1-2 questions. Pick the right time to ask more, and keep it as a normal conversation and not an inquisition. There are so many questions to ask but you have to approach it naturally unless more is needed.
The one key to teaching children is that if you are smoking or drinking, and living in a violent home life Please don’t tell them not to do the same. You’ve already set an example.
I feel for all parents who are dealing with this crazy world of Social Media. Form a small group of mothers to discuss safety and security with, you can learn from each other.
Melinda
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
lookingforthelight.blog 
I am glad too that I grew up before mobile phones existed. There was pressure at my age to where certain clothes. (Brand names.) My parents couldn’t afford that. But dad would never have bought. The idea of saving money. Not that he was as always drinking. I dread to think what it is like with these extra pressures.
At 9 years old I learnt what rape was. After hearing it several names on the news, I then asked my mum what it was and she explained. I already was reading a story that my mum had written I don’t know how long before about strangers and not to wander off, even if they say they have lost their dog, which I felt was a true story. I learnt later on that it was and it was based on my mum when she was young.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is good parenting! Have a great day. I’m sure some get tired of my “how to raise kids” but I don’t care. Good parenting, being present is so important, parents are their first real connections. The Child Support Services in Dallas is a wreck, in Plano where I live, a bit north of Dallas, we have an entire Children’s Advocacy Group that will blow your mind. They have a couple of volunteers but the commitment is two years and the responsibility was huge, I didn’t think it was a good idea due to my Mental Illness. The role would have been perfect. We are seeing the results of years of bad parenting mixed with Social Media. Have a great day. :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a tough world for all the kids and families. There is so much noise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent advice, Melinda. Luckily, my children grew up before social media was around, although, as I know from my own childhood abuse, that, unfortunately, abuse was still happening and, sadly, affected my daughter, too; we were, at least, saved from the horrors of social media.
It worries me that my eleven and nine-year-old grandchildren have their own phones; although they aren’t allowed on Facebook, Twitter and the like, they watch YouTube, which isn’t always suitable, even though my son has installed the children’s version.
In today’s society, children are often picked on and teased if they don’t have phones at quite a young age. My grandchildren’s school has a very sensible approach. All phones have to be labelled and handed into the office when entering school in the morning, and they are not retrievable until school has ended for the day. X
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad I grew up long before cell phones and computers!
LikeLiked by 1 person