Child Abuse Prevention

Month
(www.childwelfare.gov)
Talking To Your Child About Child Abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and
an important time to think about the conversations
weve had with our children about child abuse and
how to keep them safe.

The Department of Justice has a great fact sheet that
describes questions children may have about child
abuse and how you might want to respond;
for example, What is child abuse?
Child abuse is when an adult hurts a child, and it is
not an accident. Hitting, constant yelling, or
unwanted touching can all be child abuse. If
someone is hurting you or making you
uncomfortable, ask the person to stop or leave and
tell someone you trust about what happened.
http://www.ovc.gov/pubs/helpseries/pdfs/CATipS
heet.pdf

It is also a good time to have some conversations
with your children about the definitions of good
touch and bad touch. Experts suggest these
conversations can begin early and becoming more in
depth as your children age. It is important to convey
to your children that they can say no and to speak

up/not keep secrets. It is also extremely important
they know if someone hurts them, it is not their
fault. For more information about talking to your
child about child sexual abuse, see:
http://www.childhelp.org/blog/entry/how-to-talk-
to-your-kids-about-abuse/

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/talking_chil
dren_about_child_or_sexual_abuse

See also, for more good information about
preventing child abuse and neglect:
http://www.preventchildabuse.org/index.php/new
s-and-publications/tips-and-brochures


May
Awareness Activities: PTA Morning announcement

Happy Kids/ Childhood Depression
Awareness Day
Come On and Get Happy!

What makes kids happy? Kids are happier when they are
helping others and making a difference. Encourage your
child to do something for a friend, volunteer their time, or
be a part of a club or team they are really passionate about.
Studies have shown that even very young children are
happier when doing something for others rather than
something for themselves.. Research has also found that
sports, exercise, and unstructured play time are also linked
to happiness in children. Positivity and happiness can have
lasting benefits. Kids who learn to be more optimistic in
middle childhood are less likely to be depressed when they
reach puberty
What makes you happy? Did you know that
doing something kind for someone else can
make you feel happier? Also, thinking about
the postive in a situation can make you feel
happier for a long a time. So today try, to
think about one thing that you can do to
help someone out, like checking on a friend
who is having a bad day, sharing with your
brother or sister, or giving someone a
compliment. See how happy it can make
both of you feel.

Happy parents also
make happy kids. A
mothers satisfaction
with her life is more
important to her
childs social-
emotional well being
than factors such as
her income,
employment status,
educational
background, or the amount of hours her child spends in
child care. So take care of yourself, make time for your
friendships, enjoy a night out, or exercise.

Read more about raising happy kids here:
http://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-of-raising-happy-
kids/