Protecting your child against Sexual Abuse:

• Let your child know that he or she can tell you anything, and that you'll be supportive.
• Teach your child that no one -- not even a teacher or a close relative -- has the right to touch him or her in a way that feels uncomfortable, and that it's okay to say NO! .....then get away, and tell a trusted adult.
• Don't force kids to kiss or hug or sit on a grown-ups lap if they don't want to.  This gives them control and teaches them that they have the right to refuse.
• Always know where your child is and who he or she is with.
• Tell your child to stay away from strangers who hang around playgrounds, public restrooms and schools.
• Be alert for changes in your child's behavior that could signal sexual abuse such as sudden secretiveness, withdrawal from activities, refusal to go to school, unexplained hostility toward a favorite babysitter or relative, or increased anxiety. 
• Some physical signs of abuse include: bedwetting, loss of appetite, venereal disease, nightmares, and complaints of pain or irritation around the genitals.
• If your child has been sexually abused, report it to the police or a child protection agency immediately.
• If your child is a victim of any crime, from stolen lunch money to sexual abuse, don't blame him or her.  Listen and offer sympathy.