She Builds Her House

Here are some characteristics of children who are or have been sexually abused: 1. They no longer show interest in matters related to their sexuality. 2. Depression, low self-esteem, irritability, or estrangement from family, friends, and school. 3. Nightmares or sleep problems. 4. Bad behavior, aggressiveness, suicidal behavior, or unusual high-risk behavior such as riding a bicycle in the middle of traffic, climbing very tall trees, among others. (Coon & Mitterer, 2010, pg. 386.) Parents should teach their children to say no and to assert their tastes and preferences, as well. It is important to teach them that it is not correct to keep secrets and it is necessary to maintain full control over the child's social networks to avoid sexual abuse. References Coon, D., & Mitterer, J.O. (2016). Introduction to psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior (14th ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.