Why do I need to empower my kids with Only For Me?

Through the clever use of rhyme and beautiful illustrations, Only For Me will instantly engage your child, whilst guiding you through all the critical information you need to impart.
Only For Me's gentle approach allows you to educate and empower your child, whilst still protecting their precious innocence.
Statistically 2 girls and 1 boy in the average Australian primary school class will report being sexually abused before the age of 15 years (this is only the tip of the iceberg as we know so much abuse goes unreported) so it essential that we begin having body safety conversations from at least 3 years of age.
Childhood sexual abuse cuts across all demographics of society. It doesn't matter what cultural or socio-economic group you identify as - all our children are at risk and need to be empowered to protect themselves.
A significant amount of victims are abused by their peers or other young children. Which means children can be abused in situations where you least expect it (eg. playdates, kids parties, swimming lessons, sporting activities).
The benefits of speaking to your child from a young age:
- it becomes a natural and normal part of your relationship;
- they can identify inappropriate behaviour and know how to respond;
- by providing specific scenarios to your child that a predator might use during the grooming process you increase the likelihood that they will disclose inappropriate behaviour in the early stages;
- it gives them confidence to say 'no' when they don't feel comfortable about a situation;

STATISTICS

In a world where child sexual abuse is a very serious social concern, it's vitally important to begin educating our children from a very young age. Particularly, as statistics indicate that the most vulnerable age for children to be exposed to sexual assault, appears to be between the ages of 3 and 8 years of age, with the majority of onset of abuse happening between these ages.*

Sadly, statistics** also indicate that 12% of females and 4.5% of males report having been sexually abused before the age of 15 years. In reality, the statistics are probably much higher as these only reflect the cases that were actually reported at or around the time of the abuse. Of those reported cases:

45% were abused be a relative (i.e. parent, step-parent, grandparent, sibling, uncle, aunty or cousin)'
47% were abused by a friend, neighbour, acquaintance or were otherwise known to them;
11% were abused by a stranger.

And as recent reports have revealed, abuse can even be perpetrated by a child's own peers.

*According to Bravehearts' Sexual Assault Facts and Statistics documents 2012.
**According to statistics cited in the Australian Institute of Criminology's website.

SIGNS AND INDICATIONS

Please find below links to resources listing signs and indications that a child may have been sexually abused:

Bravehearts: Signs & Indicators of Sexual Abuse

Department of Communities, Child Safety & Disabilities: Child Sexual Abuse Document

CONTACT NUMBERS

Contact numbers in Australia if you suspect a child has been abused:

1800RESPECT National Helpline 1800 737 732

Bravehearts Information & Support Line 1800 272 831

From the Author Michelle Derrig:

"It was at a dinner party in early 2014, that I heard about two separate cases in my immediate community, where young children in primary school had been sexually abused by children their own age. I was horrified to hear that in both cases, the parents had been supervising their children at the time!!

It made me realise, that no matter how diligent you are as a parent, the reality is that we need to empower our children to protect themselves. We need to teach them, educate them and develop the skills they need, in order to keep themselves safe. Yet how do we do this, in a way that is gentle and dignified? How do we engage them in such a conversation? How do we talk to them about such confronting subjects, whilst maintaining their innocence?

It was these questions, that prompted me to produce Only For Me. A book which will instantly engage your children through its beautiful illustrations and clever use of rhyme, whilst gently introducing critical information that they need to know, in order to protect themselves.

Written with advice from expert professionals, it is the most comprehensive book ever written on the subject - covering subjects never before included like the inappropriate use of technology by predators and what happens after they tell someone they can trust."

Written by: Michelle Derrig

Illustrated by: Nicole MacKenzie

Dewfall Publishing

Book - Only For Me

Designer: Michelle Derrig

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