How to talk to kids about child sexual abuse
Around 70% of in-person child sexual abuse in the United States is committed by other children, according to research.
Clinical psychologist Elizabeth Letourneau tells Amna Nawaz that parents need to communicate with their kids about relationships and sexual behavior in an open, non-judgmental and objective way. She adds that children are “not born knowing” what’s okay and what’s not.
“We tell our kids not to hit or punch or tease or kick a younger kid, but we don’t tell them not to touch the private parts of younger kids,” she said. “It just doesn’t occur to most parents. We kind of assume that they’ll get it, and they don’t. They need that objective, overt information earlier.”
Letourneau and journalist Luke Malone explore child sexual abuse as a public health crisis in their book, “One in Five.”
Letourneau, along with Malone, joined Nawaz for the latest episode of PBS News podcast, Settle In. They discuss their new book and how education and early prevention can help protect children before harm is done.
For the full episode, click the link in our bio.
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