Parents cannot always protect their children. Sexual abuse can occur without a parent’s knowledge, even in her own household. While we cannot always protect a child by removing potential perpetrators or eliminating all other risk factors, we know from research that we can reduce long-term harm.
From Day One helps strengthen the attachment between parents—particularly adolescent and first time mothers—and their children by enhancing their capacity to nurture and protect. We do this by helping them verbalize and resolve fears and concerns, as well as any feelings of inadequacy about caring for their baby; and by teaching them simple, positive ways to be involved with their infants and young children.
This a seven-week series of 90 minute sessions includes participative and hands-on methods, focused on talking and listening to your baby, reading, routines, play, rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, and art. Parents assemble their own portfolio of age-appropriate art, music, books, and other parenting resource materials throughout the program. Art, music, and other activities are used during each session to reinforce the content of the session and to build confidence in the participants for using the materials and activities with their children.
I Can Tell
This abuse-awareness program uses developmentally appropriate media to teach children to recognize early signs of inappropriate sexual behavior, to affirm their feelings, and encourage them to seek out trusted adults for help. The program is offered to children in Kindergarten through grade 5.
During the classroom presentation the facilitator teaches students how to distinguish appropriate touching from inappropriate touching. Children learn body awareness and ownership, safety skills, types of touching, the importance of telling a trusted adult if abuse occurs, and that they are never at fault for the abuse. Womanline also provides on-going support to teachers by providing them with role-playing activities, videos, workbooks and storybooks, which are used to help young children understand this sensitive subject matter without becoming frightened. If your organization or school would like to partner with Womanline to bring either From Day One or I Can Tell to clients or students, call 223 3446, extension 106, or send us an email by clicking here.
