Teacher Resources for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention

School and daycare centers should be a safe space for your child to play, learn, and imagine their futures. Unfortunately, where there are children, there are also predators. As part of our commitment to the education community, we have compiled this list of resources and suggestions for creating a true safe space for children. Whether they’re coming to you with a complaint from home, or an event happening in school, these tools can be utilized to ensure you’re a trusted adult little ones can run to.

Before we get started, it is important to know that the United States has laws in certain states that make teachers, administrators, and other educational staff mandated reporters. While laws are dependent on your state, it’s important to keep up with your state’s laws to ensure you know what to do should a situation arise. Furthermore, it’s important to be educated on child sexual abuse, including the difference between myths and facts. Harmful stereotypes surrounding child victims can often lead to unreported cases. Approximately 52% of all child abuse cases were identified by school personnel over other child care professions.

Who Commits Child Sexual Abuse?

The truth is over 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator personally. It is typically someone in the victim's family circle of trust. School can be a child’s only safe space if they’re experiencing abuse at home or after school. Moreover, children are also capable of sexually abusing other children. More than one-third child survivors who have reported indicated another juvenile as their perpetrator. Child-on-child sexual abuse (COCSA) is just a prevalent as typical child sexual abuse. That said, it’s one form of CSA that is often dismissed by adults.

What Are the Signs?

For Adults Harming Children

Has a “special” child friend
Ignores or misses body cues or boundaries indicating discomfort
May give their “special” friend gifts and special attention
Keeps secrets and encourages silence from children
Always making themselves available for children involved favors (dropping off at practice, babysitting, changing diapers, etc.)
Uses sexualized language while speaking on children’s body parts (“sexy”, “pretty”, “stud”, etc.)
Interested in a child/teen’s dating life to an overwhelming extent
Forces their partner to “age play” during sexual activities, or dress/talk like a child.
Hypersexual to the point of day-to-day interference.

For Children Harming Children

Exploring their sexuality with children younger than them
Takes younger children to “secret” places or “hideaways”
Implementing “games” that include sexualized behavior (trying to play doctor, family, dressing room, etc.)
Combining aggressive teasing with sexual behavior (sexual threats, etc.)
Shares alcohol, drugs, and other age-inappropriate items with younger children or their friends
Has previously experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse and did not receive help, resources, or support.
Insistent on disrespecting personal boundaries of other children or teens

What Are Signs of CSA in Victims?

Trauma looks different on everyone, including children. These key signs of sexual abuse often happen during a turbulent time in the child’s life, such as a divorce or death of a family member. These signs can also, of course, show up in their interactions with friends at school, as well as their academic performance. This is not an exhaustive list. Here are some well-known signs of child victims:

Has been experiencing nightmares or trouble sleeping
Wetting the bed
A drastic change in eating habits (refusing food, losing or gaining weight, difficulties swallowing, etc.)
Starts conversations that provokes discussion about sexual issues
Recreates sexual imagery through writing, drawing, or playing
Knowing adult-level concepts of sexual behavior and language
Toys, money, games, or other gifts suddenly appearing
Mood swings (withdrawal from friends, rage, depression, intense anxiety, etc.)
Introducing new words for their private parts
Self-injury (cutting, burning, eating disorders, etc.)
Inadequate personal hygiene
Fear of intimacy
Sudden resistance in undressing during times of appropriate changing needed (changing at the beach, bath time, in the locker room, diaper changing, etc.)

Practice Rules that Reduce Risk

As a teacher, you are the head of the classroom. Implementing policies for your classroom that revolve around respect, boundaries, bodily autonomy, confidence, and kindness is a great way to teach children how to use their voices. Encourage open communication in the classroom about setting boundaries with classmates. Be the safe, trusted adult they can turn to for any issues they may be facing outside of school. Stress to them that secrets are not safe, and anyone who asks them to keep one is unsafe.

Learning Age-Appropriate Sexual Development

Do research on age-appropriate behaviors for sexual development in children with the age range you teach. Learning what behaviors could be perceived as typical, versus behavior that is cause for concern is highly important. Knowing the difference between the signs will help you better identify signs of sexual assault. It’s important to remember that children vary in maturity and development levels, so this research isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. However, understanding the signs can help you ask deeper questions about what the child may be experiencing.

Report, Report, Report!

As we mentioned previously, most states in the U.S. have laws requiring teachers, administration, and educational staff to report any child abuse they suspect. Check in with your school’s policies regarding reporting, as well as with your state to learn about their standards. If you see something, say something. If you notice a child exhibiting warning signs of child sexual abuse, advocate for that child by reporting. If you notice a coworker or other unsafe adult exhibiting concerning behaviors around children, report it! Trust your gut; it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Education Starts at Home!

Body safety education isn’t just a skill for the classroom; this is lifelong homework! Encourage parents to have discussions about body safety, consent, respect, and personal boundaries at home. There are plenty of resourceful websites here in this blog, but if you’re looking for one more for children ages 2-12, we got you covered.

Our Body Safety Wise box sets are ideal for introducing children to these essential safety topics. These bundle sets truly guide parents through the conversation with ease, including evidence-based resources in the back of each Where Hands Go book. We include definitions, advice, and the importance of the lessons found in each beautifully illustrated children’s book.

Be sure to check out the other books we have about body safety education!

TEACHERS! One last thing. Thank you for the vigilant work you do shaping generation after generation. Diggs Publishing wouldn’t be the same without you! We’re offering a special teacher discount code for our upcoming Upper Elementary and Early Elementary Teacher’s Guides by former educator and author, Marcie Colleen. Sign up for our marketing emails so you can find out when they drop!