In America, 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls will be sexually abused before they turn 18. The sobering truth is that in 9 out of 10 cases, the child knows the perpetrator. It could be a relative, friend, neighbor or teacher. This is why educating our children about 'stranger danger' is not enough to protect them from harm. In my work with children who have been sexually abused I often hear from parents and teachers that they feel unsure about talking with children about sexual abuse. E. Moore's latest addition to the Mya Kids series, Body Safety with Mya: My Body Is Off Limits!, creates an ideal conversation-starter that approaches the topic in a way that empowers children. The familiar character of Mya shares her experience of being inappropriately touched by an older cousin and how she decides to be strong and tell her parents. We teach our children fire drills, tornado safety and stranger danger. Let us also teach our children body safety so we can help prevent them from becoming one of those statistics.
