Parents on the lookout for sexual abuse of their children need to play the role of detective, looking for subtle changes in behavior that are most often the sign of a problem, according to experts. Most kids are fearful they'll anger their parents, don't wait for a child to volunteer that they have been abused, said Mary Pulido, director of the child-protection center. Some of the signs to look for:
- Children who suddenly develop an aversion to school.
- A noticeable increase in time a child wants to spend indoors watching TV instead of going out to play.
- Clinging, anxious or irritable behavior.
- Regression to infant-like habits, including thumb-sucking.
- Fear of particular people.
Parents have to remain calm and resist the urge to push too hard. It's important to remain calm while a child describes what could be sexual abuse. Dr. Linda Cahill, medical director of the Montefiore Medical Center's Child Protection Center said, "A parent panicking sends an immediate message to a child that they've done something wrong." She said when that happens, a child will usually avoid talking about it again.