Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse and Trauma | Clint Davis
Aug 29, 2023
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Clint Davis, an Army Veteran and trauma specialist, talks about protecting children from sexual abuse and trauma. Topics include appropriate language for children, screen usage effects, healing from childhood trauma, rules to protect children from inappropriate content and behavior, and the importance of open conversations and teaching consent.
Parents should have age-appropriate conversations about body safety, sexual development, and consent with their children.
Sexual neglect can have long-lasting effects on children, leading to confusion, shame, and vulnerability to abuse.
Excessive screen time and unrestricted access to technology can harm children's development; setting limits and providing guidance is crucial.
Deep dives
Importance of Age-Appropriate Conversations
Parents need to have age-appropriate conversations with their children about body safety, sexual development, and consent. These conversations help children understand their bodies, set boundaries, and recognize inappropriate behavior.
The Impact of Sexual Neglect
Sexual neglect, which refers to a lack of education on body safety and sexual development, can have long-lasting effects on children. It can lead to confusion, shame, and vulnerability to sexual abuse. Parents must address this neglect by providing appropriate information and building bridges of trust with their children.
Limiting Screen Time and Technology
Excessive screen time and unrestricted access to technology can be harmful to children's development and well-being. Setting limits on screen time and providing guidance on safe internet use can protect children from exposure to inappropriate content, reduce impulsivity, and foster better self-regulation.
The Importance of Parental Involvement
Parents play a crucial role in protecting their children from sexual abuse and the negative effects of technology. They should actively engage in conversations, set boundaries, and educate themselves on parenting strategies. By fostering open and transparent communication, parents can help their children develop resilience, protect them from harm, and promote their overall well-being.
The Importance of Scaffolding Technology Use
It is crucial to scaffold children's technology use similar to how we guide them when learning to drive. Starting with supervised phone and iPad usage, teaching them about the dangers and rules, and gradually allowing more independence as they demonstrate responsible behavior.
Protecting Children from Harmful Content and Conversations
Parents need to be proactive in teaching their children about online safety and addressing the explicit content that they may encounter. It is important to have open conversations, set clear boundaries, and establish trust, while also being mindful of the risks posed by unsupervised situations like sleepovers and camps.
Clint Davis is an Army Veteran with a bachelor's in psychology and master's in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is an ordained minister and an LPC, trained in trauma and certified in sexual addiction recovery. Clint is trained in Natural Lifemanship, which is a trauma responsive equine therapy, where horses and humans connect and heal. He has worked, for over a decade, in ministry to help those out of human trafficking and poverty. Clint owns Clint Davis Counseling and Integrative Wellness. He has a team of mental health counselors and other medical professionals, who help people recover from trauma to the mind, body, and spirit. He also hosts the Asking Why podcast.
In this episode we discuss:
Appropriate language and boundaries for children
Screen usage and what it does to young brains
How to heal from childhood trauma
Rules and protocols to protect your children from inappropriate content and behavior.
This episode is brought to you by One Farm, Timeline Nutrition, 1stPhorm, Inside Tracker
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