How to help keep your children safe

CAMPAIGN TO GIVE KIDS CONFIDENCE OVER ISSUE OF ABUSE

Reporter THE NSPCC is encouraging parents to talk to their children about keeping their bodies private, in an effort to prevent child sexual abuse this Christmas.

The charity’s PANTS campaign focuses on the message that what’s under a child’s underwear is private, and aims to help parents keep their children safe without having to talk about sex or abuse more generally before they feel their child is ready.

It is running alongside the NSPCC’s Light up Christmas for Children campaign which aims to stop vulnerable kids being left without an answer when they contact Childline.

PANTS has five messages for children based on the letters of the word: Privates are private; always remember your body belongs to you; no means no; talk about secrets that upset you; and speak up, someone can help.

Helen Westerman, the NSPCC’s campaigns manager for the North of England, said: “We are urging parents to talk to their children about how to stay safe from sexual abuse and we have things that can help. We understand that those sorts of conversations can be quite difficult. Parents don’t want to scare their children, or they think it’s too soon to be bringing this issue into children’s lives. “Our PANTS campaign allows them to talk about it without even mentioning the word ‘sex.’ As soon as children can grasp basic concepts, then is the time for children to be having these discussions.

“It’s about giving children the confidence to come out if something is upsetting them, and understanding that what’s under their pants is private. “We know that 90% of children who have been sexually abused are abused by someone that they know, and the perpetrators will use hideous tricks to