| Many families do not want to believe | | | | |
| their child is being sexually abused | | | | Get Professional Help if Your Child |
| even if the signs of child sexual abuse | | | | Exhibits the Signs of Child Sexual Abuse |
| are staring them straight in the face. | | | | |
| Unfortunately many families are in a | | | | If your child is exhibiting any or all |
| similar situation where both parents are | | | | of the signs of child sexual abuse take |
| working full time and someone other than | | | | your child to your family doctor for a |
| the biological parents are caring for | | | | medical exam. You might also want to |
| their children. Under these | | | | seek counseling with a professional who |
| circumstances the potential for child | | | | has experience with child sexual abuse. |
| sexual abuse is more prevalent. | | | | Both the medical doctor and the |
| Obviously under these circumstances it | | | | psychological professional should be |
| is tremendously important for parents to | | | | able to determine definitively whether |
| watch for the signs of child sexual | | | | anything sexually inappropriate has |
| abuse. | | | | occurred. |
| | | | |
| Some common signs of child sexual abuse | | | | Many children who exhibit the signs of |
| are: | | | | child sexual abuse feel like they have |
| | | | done something wrong. Support your |
| * Sexually advanced for his or her age | | | | child and reassure them that they were |
| * Increase in masturbation, | | | | the innocent victims. By taking the |
| preoccupation with sex or promiscuous | | | | signs of child sexual abuse seriously |
| behavior | | | | and with your support and encouragement, |
| * Frequent urinary track infections or | | | | your child will eventually emotionally |
| irritation in the genital area | | | | heal from this abuse. Your child will |
| | | | also learn how much you trust and |
| Do Not Ignore The Signs of Child Sexual | | | | support them.Lisa Dunning is a |
| Abuse | | | | California Licensed Marriage and Family |
| | | | Therapist Specializing in Parent/Child |
| Many families ignore the signs of child | | | | Relationship issues and author of "Good |
| sexual abuse believing their child was | | | | Parents Bad Parenting: How To Parent |
| safe because someone they knew always | | | | Together When Your Parenting Styles Are |
| watched their children. Unfortunately, | | | | Worlds Apart".Lisa Dunning is a |
| studies of child sexual abuse have shown | | | | columnist for Las Vegas Family Magazine |
| that children were most often abused by | | | | & Los Angeles Family Magazine and |
| people they knew. It is important that | | | | provides expert relationship and |
| you take these signs of child sexual | | | | parenting advice for television and |
| abuse seriously so you could stop any | | | | radio programs throughout the country. |
| further abuse. | | | | |