Children this age need careful structure for safety. Parents who do not abuse or neglect their children keep them safe by:
- Refusing to leave a child alone in the house or car
- Always using car seats or safety belts when traveling with a child in the car
- Carefully supervising a child in a shopping cart
- Continuing to cut food into small pieces
- Setting clear and firm limits for baby-sitters by discussing do's and don'ts and then leaving a list of them
- Monitoring outside play and water safety
- Making certain that other adults understand what the children need
- Teaching children what good or bad touch is and then listening carefully if children report anything that would suggest abusive behavior from other adults
- Teaching children accurate terms for all body parts, including penis, testicles, vagina, vulva, and breasts
- Teaching children ways to resolve conflict without verbal or physical attacks
- Teaching children their full name, phone number, and address
- Teaching children how and when to use 911
- Teaching children safety skills, like saying no and respecting their own and others' bodies
If you suspect abuse of any kind, find a way to protect your child. Get help if you need it. Report the abuser to the child protection service in your area.
Christine Ternand, M.D.
Source: HELP! For Parents of Children from Birth to Five: Tried and True Solutions to Parents' Everyday Problems, author Jean Illsley Clarke, First rev ised Edition, 1993
Copyright 2000 by Jean Illsley Clarke, Self-Esteem: A Family Affair, All Rights Reserved.
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