Resources

TEN WAYS TO
PREVENT ABUSE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

AS A COMMUNITY PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITIES. IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLT FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO GET US ALL STARTED:

Know where to find your local Child Advocacy Center. By visiting the National Children’s Alliance website you can find a CAC Member List of a center near you.

Support activities that raise public awareness during April, National Child
Abuse Prevention Month.

Volunteer at a local child abuse program. Parent support groups, crisis center, and hotlines are typical programs that often welcome volunteers.

Check your telephone directory for names of agencies in your area. Wynona’s House
welcomes volunteers.

Please remember to report abuse or neglect. Keeping children safe means that each of us has an obligation to inform authorities if you have reasonable suspicion that children are being harmed. Your concern could safe a child’s Life.

Be an advocate for services that support help families.

Let your voice be hear about non-violent television programming for children.
You can let local television stations and sponsors of network programs know that.

Consider excessive violence inappropriate for impressionable young viewers.

Make contributions to a child abuse prevention organizations and local Child Advocacy Centers.

Help yourself. If you as the parent feel overwhelmed, angry, constantly sad and
Our of control, please think about getting help. Remember, it is a sign of strength, not weakness, to ask for HELP.

Remember, ignoring abuse may meet the needs of the adult but it leaves the child at continued risk.

Resource: Prevent Child Abuse NJ
1-800-Children
http://www.preventchildabusenj.org

TIPS TO PARENTS FROM YOUR PRE-SCHOOLERS

a. Please don’t walk so fast when we go places together. My legs are short and I can’t keep up with your long legs. Besides there are so many things I need to see and learn about along the way.

b. I can’t pay attention to things for a very long time. Lots of things last too long – like shopping and visiting and sometimes games you play with me.

c. When I’m frightened of a big dog of something, please pick me up and hold me; that helps more than telling me you won’t let anything hurt me.

d. Sometimes IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU WOULD TALK TO ME and explain why we have to do things, or explain what is going to happen ahead of time when it’s something new to me – then I’ll know what to do. Sometimes you might even just have a conversation with me about anything: it would make me feel I belong to this family too.

e. Sometimes BIG PEOPLE GET IN SUCH A HURRY they tell me about six things all at the same time. I get confused when people say things like this: “This afternoon we’re going to grandmother’s; get your coat; finish your lunch; choose the toy you want to take; and what shoes do you have on?

f. Please give me time to DO THINGS MYSELF. I know I’m slow. I haven’t learned how to put my clothes on yet, much less do it fast. What’s the hurry about, anyway?

g. I HAVE TROUBLE SITTING STILL IN THE CAR EVEN WHEN YOU KEEP TELLING ME TO ‘Cause it’s not very interesting to look at the back seat or the dashboard things.’ I’m too little to see what’s outside.

h. I MAY BE SMALL AND DON’T KNOW ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS.

Resource: Prevent Child Abuse NJ.


QUICK TIPS ON PARENTING

Getting Kids to Listen requires patience and nurturing. Giving orders, criticizing, putting them down, begging them make children more stubborn.

Instead, Try These Ideas: Go over to your child. Look him or her in the eye. With young children, touch them to get their attention. Talking from across the room, or from another room seldom works. When you are close to you child, she or he will hear you better.

Tell your child what to do, instead of what to not do. Change “don’t” into
“do”. “Walk instead of run.” “Keep your paint on these papers

Give your child information. Describe the problem. Information helps children
Figure out what to do. Try, “I’m making a phone call and need quiet”. Ants
come in the house when jelly is on the floor”

Don’t back yourself and your child into a corner. Try “When”…..instead of “If…..”

The louder you yell the less effective you are. Screaming and yelling let your child know that you are out of control

INSTEAD OF PUNISHMENT:

Why isn’t punishing them a good idea? When children are punished, they come hurt, angry, defiant…Children need to learn what to do instead of misbehaving. Discipline teaches them. Our job as parents is to help them learn.

Give a choice…but only a choice you can live with. “You may walk beside me or ride in the cart. You decide.” “Supper is at 5:30. Be home then if you want to eat.”

Take action. Follow through when you have given a choice or told them what to expect. “Since you are not staying beside me, you must ride in the cart.” You are still arguing over the toy, so I’ll put it away until after supper.”

Remember you are the grown up. Stay cool, firm, calm and clear.