Sometimes warning signs don’t mean that an adult is abusing a child, but instead that this adult has poor boundaries and can contribute to raising a child who may be more vulnerable. Rather, look for patterns and repetitious behavior. Have you ever had any other concerns about your daughter’s father’s behaviors? Please look over our warning signs, noting that one of two signs doesn’t mean that her father is abusing her. There is no reason that any adult should purposefully have sex, knowing that a child can hear and/or see what is going on. Likewise, intending to expose a child to sexual activity is abusive. Sometimes two adults may even have sex in the same room as a child, like when the child is an infant.
Accidentally, walls may be thin and a child may be able to hear something from another room, or perhaps they unintentionally walked into the bedroom during a sexual act. When a child witnesses or overhears a sexual encounter between adults, it could be accidentally or with intent. Understanding the Definition Child Sexual Abuse is often a helpful way to clear up some common misinterpretations of what child abuse is and is not. Sexual abuse can indeed occur through both touching and non-touching behaviors and actions. Identifying whether adult’s behaviors are abusive is a key step in safety planning. What you’ve asked is an important question. Thank you for contacting Stop It Now! We understand how important, and sometimes confusing, it can be to protect a child.
