Being a good person isn’t just about not hurting others; it’s about helping others.

Your child may witness or suspect abuse of another child, or may even have a friend that discloses their abuse to him/her. Especially when abuse is perpetrated by a peer or in a group setting (e.g. hazing, house parties, shuls, or at a workplace, etc.), if one child can find the courage to speak out on the behalf of another child being victimized, (rather than playing the role of a silent bystander like in the well-known Steubenville case), it will most likely help others stand up and do the right thing as well.

It’s also important that our children know to come to us, or a trusted adult, with their concerns. Abuse prevention is not just about protecting our own kids, but keeping all kids safe from abuse. And as our children become older, we must also empower them with the ability and responsibility to help others.