Your 12 year old reports that while at a slumber party, her friend's father kept walking in while the girls were changing their clothes. Your child is upset. Your child may wonder about your reaction. Your child wants to know if you think this is okay. Sexual abuse is very common even though many people do not want to talk about it.
Sexual abuse is done most often by someone known to the child.
Sexual abuse is never the child's fault. Pre-teens often have a strong need to feel accepted by their friends and they fear rejection. This can make it hard for a child to make a choice based on what their friends want versus what their parents want. They often don't know what causes them to feel uncomfortable. Children of this age need to be told that their thoughts and feelings are normal.