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