It is important for parents to know that, with only a few exceptions, it is legal forstrangers to take pictures or videos of minors in a public space. Public space here isdefined as an open indoor or outdoor area that is physically accessible to all suchaspublic parks,...

Sextortion happens when a predator threatens to share sexual images of another person to manipulate or harm that person. The American Academy of Pediatrics has classified sextortion as a form of image-based sexual abuse. Children and teens are particularly vulnerable, ...

As your children head back to school, parents should begin laying the groundwork (if they haven’t already) for open communication about the school’s safety guidelines and policies. Talk to children about safe adults and keep lines of communication open about who they s...

When it comes to schools and programs that serve children, it is critical to have a culture of safety that protects children from sexual abuse. Examine your child’s school or programs for evidence of this culture — look for values that emphasize child safety and decisi...

It is important to distinguish normal, age-appropriate curiosity from concerning sexual behaviors that may be inappropriate or potentially abusive. In general, developmentally appropriate behaviors will be playful, curious, and will be enacted among similar age groups....

Summer means more children are using paths and roads for biking, walking, and rolling. That is why the state of California started the “Protect Our Pedestrians. Protect Our Cyclists” education campaign. The campaign calls on drivers to slow down, look out for people of...

While parents are often hypervigilant around pools and lakes, drowning can happen at home in an instant, especially with very young children. This summer, watch children around water at home, including buckets, containers, and kiddie pools. Children and babies can drow...

If a minor has had nude or explicit images or videos published on the internet, there is assistance to remove those images online. Take It Down is a free service provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that helps to stop the sharing o...

If your children are exposed to exploitive and abusive materials online, or if you discover such materials online, please report these exposures to help protect other children and families. You can report an incident to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Child...

A child’s need to establish a boundary must always be the priority, even over an adult’s desire for affection or connection. If a child does not want to give a hug or even a high five, it is up to the adult to accept that boundary and respect the child’s comfort level....