Here are four things we can do to help children protect themselves from sexual abuse:

   1.    Teaching our child to distinguish wanted from unwanted touching.
    Wanted touch is pleasant and even healthy for our body and makes us feel loved and important. It gives the child a feeling of safety and security.
    An unwanted touch is when someone who touches you causes you something bad or hurts your body or feelings. For example, when someone hits, pushes, insults or touches you in places that are very personal. Unwanted touches are also those that cause children anxiety, discomfort, shame or pain. For this type of situation, it is good for children to be taught to say clearly and emphatically "No", "Stop".

    When we learn and prepare our child to recognize and understand their feelings, we give them a tool that they can use throughout their life. In the moments when they feel threatened, they will be able to realize the dangers and look for alternatives to deal with, to seek our support from parents and close adults

    2.    Teaching our child to know the parts of thier body, including the intimate area.
    This should be done calmly, as in this period children generally show interest in the body, but when explained without undue emotion, they quickly lose that interest.
   Here it is important to note that the area of the body that is covered by underwear is very personal and no one has the right to touch the child there, except the parent and the doctor, only during examination.
    If the child does not have words to name the intimate parts of their body, they could not tell us about potentially dangerous situations. When you start such a conversation with your child, you, as an adult, will decide what terminology to use. It's a long dialogue between you and the child, so don't worry if you miss something or something is left unclear.
    It is recommended that we use the terms that biology uses to describe the intimate parts of the human body.

• For boys, the intimate parts of the body are the penis and buttocks.

• For girls, the intimate parts of the body are the vulva, vagina and chest in front and buttocks.

    Speaking in a natural way, using facts, will help children to correctly identify and share about any problem related to intimacy and to freely ask the questions they may have.
    For better visualization in children, the intimate parts of the body can be referred to simply as "those parts of the body that are covered with a swimsuit or underwear." Thus the message to the children is that the parts of the child's body belong to them only and they whether to share their body or not. It needs to know its personal boundaries, to uphold them, and to respect and acknowledge those of others, whether they are their peers, parents, or other adults.

    3.   Teaching our child to guard their personal boundaries in situations of unwanted touch.
    When these boundaries are violated, it is very important for children to learn to say "NO, STOP!" very clearly and distinctly. It is important to tell them that a) if there are such attempts, they should immediately look for a close adult, b) everything an adult does is the responsibility of the adult and children are not to blame if adults do confusing and strange things.

    4. Identifying and introducing children to safe adults to whom they can turn in case of a problem.
    This could be, for example, the kindergarten teacher. It is important for the child to know that he or she can always turn to their parents or other adults who care for them, to adults they trust, and that talking to them will not result in any blame or punishment.
    It is understandable that the parent is tense or even slightly anxious in such conversations. The question is always how to start such a conversation. Parents often worry about not intimidating or disturbing the child excessively. Therefore, this conversation is best to follow the children's interest and be very free of emotions, for example when we tell the child not to take anything from a stranger. Thus, the conversation will be perceived by the child as part of the rules. It is important to remember that the child learns through experience and in this sense the parent's respect for the child's body helps them better understand the rule of wanted and unwanted touch. Research shows that sharing without fear helps the child understand and benefit from this knowledge more easily.