Friday, April 4, 2014

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

First, some statistics on child abuse:

In 2011, 6.2 million children were referred to Child Protective Services (CPS).
In 2011, 3.7 million children were investigated for maltreatment by CPS.
In 2011, 676,569 children were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect.*

It is staggering how many child suffer some form of abuse or neglect!  

Nurturing is what we need to do for our children and especially for children who have been abused in any form. Nurturing is showing love and caring for children. Here are some ways to nurture the children in your life:

TRUST AND RESPECT
• Acknowledge children’s right to have their own feelings, friends, activities and opinions.
• Promote independence
• Allow for privacy
• Respect feelings for (other) parent
• Believe (your) children

PROMOTE EMOTIONAL SECURITY
• Talk and act so that children feel safe and comfortable expressing themselves
• Be gentle
• Be dependable

PROVIDE PHYSICAL SECURITY
• Provide food, shelter, clothing
• Teach personal hygiene and nutrition
• Monitor safety
• Maintain a family routine
• Attend to wounds

PROVIDE DISCIPLINE
• Be consistent
• Ensure rules appropriate to age and development of children
• Be clear about limits and expectations
• Use discipline to give instruction, not punishment

GIVE AFFECTION
• Express verbal and physical affection
• Be affectionate when you children are physically or emotionally hurt

GIVE TIME
• Participate in your children’s lives: activities, school, sports, special events and days, celebrations, friends
• Include your children in your activities
• Reveal who you are to your children

ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT
• Be affirming
• Encourage children to follow their interest
• Let children disagree with you
• Recognize improvement
• Teach new skills
• Let them make mistakes

CARE FOR YOURSELF
• Give yourself personal time
• Keep yourself healthy
• Maintain friendships
• Accept love

* from http://www.firststar.org/library/national-statistics.aspx
**Reprinted from http://www.prokinship.org: Kinship Link; March 2014 Newsletter

If you are interested in nurturing a child in Dakota County as a mentor through Kids 'n Kinship, attend an information session on April 22, 6-6:45 pm at Wescott Library in Eagan.  Call 651-686-0990 to register.  You can learn more about our program on our website - www.kidsnkinship.org

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