Childhood abuse

At home, in the daycare center, at the sports or music club: These places should be especially protected spaces for young children that parents must be able to rely on. But one hundred percent safety unfortunately does not exist. Despite all preventive measures, the youngest children are vulnerable victims for perpetrators who take advantage of children's special neediness and quickly gained trust. How to react if you suspect that your child is affected by sexualized violence and where to get help, you can read here.

When young children experience boundary violations, assaults or abuse, it usually happens in their immediate environment. Sexual violence is defined as sexual acts that are performed on or in front of a child. It does not matter if they happen against the child's will or if the child does not knowingly consent due to his or her dependency. Central to this is that a person takes advantage of another person's inferiority to satisfy his or her own sexual needs and need for power. The range of sexualized violence is wide and the boundaries are often fluid.

Sexual boundary violations

Boundary violations describe a one-time or at most occasional inappropriate behavior, which sometimes also happens unintentionally.

Examples:

• Disregard for personal boundaries, e.g. comforting hug, although this is unpleasant for the other person
• Disregard for personal rights, e.g.E.g. violation of the right to one's own image by publishing photos on the cell phone or on the Internet
• Misrespect of privacy, e.g. obligatory changing in the collective locker room, although a girl or boy only wants to change in the individual cabin
• Hugs or kisses that the child does not want

Sexual assault

Sexual assaults go one step further. They never happen unintentionally or by accident, but represent a willful and clear transgression of social norms, institutional rules, and professional standards. Personal boundaries, verbal, nonverbal and physical resistance are ignored. Moreover, they occur with a different massiveness and frequency.

For example:

• The perpetrator demands tenderness from children.
• An adult intentionally touches the buttocks or genitals of a child.

Punishable forms of sexualized violence

Punishable acts include:

• An adult solicits a child to perform sexual acts on him/herself.
• An adult solicits a child to perform sexual acts on others.
• A child is raped.
• An adolescent disseminates intimate images and videos of a child to third parties via the network.

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At the outset, parents cannot protect their children from all dangers. But you can do a lot to ensure that your child grows up strong and self-confident with a loving parent-child relationship and your parenting attitude. Because: Strong children are better protected! This is what experts advise mothers and fathers to do to protect their child preventively:

The most important advice: Stay calm and level-headed! Believe your child and do not question the statements. Give comfort and praise your child for confiding in you. The revelation that something like this has been done to your own child is certainly extremely upsetting for you. It is completely understandable that you are overwhelmed by massive emotions. The initial shock is followed by anger, fear, grief and, not infrequently, emotional stress disorder. Seek help as soon as possible, for example at a special counseling center. There, you will meet experienced counselors who know exactly what to do now and will sensitively work with you to create a plan for the next steps.