For parents and caregivers
Start with calm, belief and safety
Your response can help a child feel protected and begin recovering. You do not have to manage the situation alone.
When a child tells you
Stay calm, listen and ask only the open questions needed for immediate safety. Your first words matter.
You could say
“I believe you.”
“You did the right thing by telling me.”
“This is not your fault.”
What not to do
Do not interrogate the child, suggest answers, blame them, confront the suspected person in front of the child or share the disclosure widely.
Document and report
Write the child's exact words, the date and what you observed. Keep the record secure. Contact appropriate protection, medical or police services based on urgency.
Positive discipline
Set clear, age-appropriate rules and consequences without hitting, humiliating or frightening. Pause when angry and ask another safe adult for support.
Supporting recovery
Maintain routines, offer choices and arrange trauma-informed care. Recovery takes time, and a child's reactions may change over time.
More ways to find help
You are not alone in this.
Whatever brought you here, reaching out is a safe and reasonable thing to do.