FOR CHILDREN

· No one should ever:  touch your private parts (where your bathing suit goes); ask you to touch their private parts; take off their clothes in front of you or ask you to remove your clothes.

· Know what it feels like to feel uncomfortable.

· Know what it means to honor your feelings.

· Know how to say “no”.

· Know that it’s okay to be rude and disrespectful and even strike someone if you’re in danger.

· Know that it’s okay to yell and scream and “make a scene”.

· If someone says “don’t tell”:  TELL.

· If someone says “don’t yell”:  YELL.

· If someone tries to take you, yell:  “this is not my mother/father”.

· Never never never never never never leave someplace with someone without prior parental permission (even if you know the person!) (and even if it means saying you will not help them).

· Know how to get help (find a woman with a child if possible but a woman alone is also okay).

· Know that feeling safe is more important than being nice.

FOR ADULTS

· Minimize opportunities for abuse to occur:  minimize one-on-one time between your child and an older person;  but when it’s necessary, drop in unexpectedly and try to ensure observability (an open door or a door with a window).

· Take every opportunity to let our kids know that we can hear about anything that ever happens to them (i.e., they don’t have to protect us).