Sometimes It's O.K. to Tell Secrets!: A Parent/Child Manual for the Protection of Children

by Robin Lenett, Dana Barthelme, Bob Crane

A guide designed to help parents educate children about child abuse explains how to open lines of communication between parents and children

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1986

Reviews

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is primarily for parents, describing how they can build a relationship with their children that encourages disclosure so problems can be stopped before they stem into sexual abuse. At the end of the book are several scenarios that can be read to children about other children who were in tough situations but handled them appropriately. Not all the situations deal with sexual abuse - some are about stealing or other situations that just don't feel right - and there is nothing explicitly written. But the point is that kids should be aware of what's going on around them, never take gifts from an adult, and never keep an adult's secrets. Parents are there to protect the child, and the child needs to understand that the other adult has no real control over the situation.

It's mostly common sense, but I appreciated the display of how to make a child feel heard and safe. The pictures were pretty weird and dated, though, like a bad Ziggy cartoon.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a excellent resource for both parents and children to learn the dangers of growing up in today's times. I really admired the authors because they didn't focus on "stranger danger" which is overblown when you look at the facts that show that "family danger" is much more prevelant. The beginning of the book is for adults in that it teaches the signs, symptoms, and strategies to fight abuses. The other half of the book is for kids to read. Each chapter talks about a situation the child might find themselves in and how they might go about resolving it. A nice read for parents and children to read together.