Article: It is very rare for a child to lie about sexual abuse. If your child tells you that someone abused them, or even made them uncomfortable, believe them. You should trust what they tell you even if they are talking about a family member or someone you think you know very well. Children often have better instincts than adults. This could be because they are not as worried about being polite. Listen to your child if they tell you someone gives them bad vibes. When you're talking about abuse, you don't want to scare your child. Try to keep your voice calm and friendly. Try not to raise your voice. Even if you are upset, try to play it cool. Your child will be more receptive to your words if you don't seem upset or angry. Explain to your child that they have parts of their body that are private. Teach them the proper terms for their body parts so that they can ask questions and voice concerns about touching. Let your child know that no one should touch their private parts unless it is someone providing medical care. Explain that a trusted adult should be present if they are receiving some sort of care. Tell your child that if someone asks to look at or touch their private parts they should tell a trusted adult as soon as possible. You can say, "If someone asks you if they can see your vagina, you should say no. Then go find someone like me or a teacher that you like and tell them that someone made you uncomfortable." Teach your child that no one should show them their own private parts. Say, "Other people shouldn't want you to look at their penis. If someone tries to do that say "no" and go find a grown up you trust." Let your child know that it is okay to say "no" if someone makes them uncomfortable. They can say, "No, don't do that, I don't like it." You can tell them, "It is okay to have boundaries when you are playing or when someone is trying to touch you. Let them know if you don't like what they're doing." Say, "If someone makes you scared or uncomfortable, find a grown up that you trust and tell them what happened." Talk openly about sexual abuse and sexuality. Say, "It's okay to talk to me and ask questions. Don't worry, you're not going to get in trouble if you tell me someone made you feel scared." Tell kids not to keep secrets for other adults. Let them know they should tell you if someone asks them to keep something a secret.

What is a summary?
Trust what your child tells you. Use a casual tone when discussing bad situations. Explain inappropriate touching. Teach your child about setting boundaries.