Prevention Tips for Parents & Caregivers
Learn best practices for protecting children from sexual abuse, and discover resources for help and healing if someone abuses a child in your care.
At RAINN, we believe prevention starts with education and open communication—and that healing is possible for every survivor and their family.
Get Informed
Many parents and caregivers worry about “stranger danger”—sexual predators lurking in public spaces or online, waiting to harm their children.
The threat of sexual predators is real, but research shows that most child sexual abuse is committed by someone the child knows and trusts, such as a family member, friend, coach, or babysitter. (1)
Sexual Violence Statistics: Children & Teens
Research reveals who’s at risk, the long-term impacts of sexual abuse, and who perpetrates this crime. Learn the facts so you can take action.
Get the Facts
Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is a serious crime with lasting impacts. Learn how to recognize the signs, what counts as abuse, and where to get help.
COCSA: Child-on-Child Sexual Abuse
Learn to identify child-on-child sexual abuse (COCSA) and what steps to take if you believe a child has sexually abused another child.
Get the Facts About CSAM: Child Sexual Abuse Material
CSAM isn’t pornography—it’s evidence of criminal exploitation of kids. Get informed, get outraged, and join RAINN’s fight to protect children from online sexual violence.
Get Involved
Parents and caregivers can play a powerful role in protecting children. To protect children effectively, adults can:
- Teach body autonomy. Kids should know they can say “no” to any touch that feels wrong.
- Encourage open communication. Create safe, judgment-free spaces for children to share anything that scares or confuses them.
- Notice behavioral changes. Watch for sudden withdrawal, fear, aggression, or age-inappropriate sexual behaviors—these can be important red flags. (3)
- Be alert to grooming behaviors. Predators often use subtle tactics—like excessive attention, gifts, or secrecy—to gain trust before abuse. (4)
- Monitor adult–child interactions. Pay attention if someone requests frequent one-on-one time or tries to isolate the child.
Essential Education
Protecting & Supporting Kids
Learn six proactive steps you can take to help protect your kids from the risk of sexual abuse—and support them if something happens.
How Can Parents Help Protect Kids from Sexual Abuse & CSAM?
There’s no failproof way to guarantee a child’s safety—but these five tips can make a real difference when it comes to protecting kids from online predators.
Warning Signs To Watch For
Young children, teenagers, and college-age adults face the highest risk of experiencing sexual violence. Learn the warning signs and how to intervene.
How To Find Trustworthy Caregivers
Learn how to find safe, trustworthy childcare or eldercare. This guide covers caregiver vetting tips, signs of abuse, and steps to take if you suspect harm.
Bystander Intervention: Protecting Children
Learn to recognize the signs of child sexual abuse, how to talk to a child survivor, and how to report crimes against kids, tweens, and teens.
Fight for Justice
Together, we can advance survivor-centered legislation that enforces accountability and delivers justice. Join RAINN’s work toward better laws nationwide.
Get Support
At RAINN, we’re committed to supporting families who are navigating safety concerns or healing from child sexual abuse.
If a child in your care does experience sexual abuse, RAINN is here to walk beside families and communities from crisis to healing.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
When you visit our website or reach out to RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline, you’ll find:
- Educational guidance. We provide accessible tools and articles, enabling caregivers with the knowledge needed to protect children and help families access ongoing care.
- Information and assistance. We help parents and caregivers learn about reporting processes, find trauma-informed therapists, and support their child’s long-term recovery.
- Advocacy and action. We advocate for federal and state laws that empower prevention, healing, and justice—and you can join our fight!
How To Stay Strong & Support Your Child
By practicing regular self-care, you can build the strength and resilience you need to maintain a supportive environment for your child’s recovery.
For Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
RAINN is here to help survivors of child sexual assault understand what happened, recognize its impacts, and get the help and healing they deserve.
Join Our Community
Join the Fight for a World Free from Sexual Violence
Sign up for inspiring stories, important updates from RAINN, and tools to take action in your community.
SOURCES
- (1) Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. L. (2014). The lifetime prevalence of child sexual abuse and sexual assault assessed in late adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(3), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.12.026
- (2) RAINN (2025). Child sexual abuse statistics. RAINN.org
- (3) London, K., Bruck, M., Ceci, S. J., & Shuman, D. W. (2005). Disclosure of child sexual abuse: What does the research tell us about the ways that children tell? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 11(1), 194–226. https://doi.org/10.1037/1076-8971.11.1.194
- (4) Craven, S., Brown, S., & Gilchrist, E. (2006). Sexual grooming of children: Review of literature and theoretical considerations. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 12(3), 287–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/13552600601069414