Understanding Your Child’s ‘Harm Alarm’

Getting a moment of silence from our little chatterbugs can seem like a vacation, but there are times when it is incredibly important for a child to speak out.

Lil’ Iguana’s Children’s Safety Foundation teaches children about their “harm alarm,” which is the funny or uncomfortable feeling someone gets when they know something is not right. We teach kids to run away when they get that feeling and tell an adult they trust.

It is important for your child to feel comfortable enough to communicate what is going on inside them. The best way to make that happen is to give them the confidence to speak their mind and the support to share their feelings.

Forge a strong, open relationship. This takes away any doubts when a child’s harm alarm goes off. He/she knows that they can come to you and explain exactly what made them feel uncomfortable or threatened.

This is important when the person setting off that harm alarm is another adult they know well. An estimated 60 percent of abuse cases involve somebody that the child is familiar with but not a family member, according to the American Psychological Association. This can make it easier for the offender to convince your child to keep quiet, but there should be no secrets when it comes to abuse.

A trusting relationship with your child also encourages them to pay attention when you are discussing safety.

Don’t shy away from tough topics. We want to keep our children innocent as long as possible, but the world can be a dangerous place. There needs to be a basic understanding of situations to avoid and how to protect oneself in an emergency.

Make sure they know about their harm alarm and the importance of running to a safe place when it goes off. Also go over the tricks that strangers, or even people they know, will use to get them to drop their guard.

Be aware of your child. Your child is always changing and growing, but it is crucial to be attentive to their behavior each day. They may not always be ready to share what is going on, but you can help them by looking out for warning signs.

There are many ways to tell if a child has escaped from, or experienced, a bad situation. A sudden change in behavior, mood or eating habits can mean that there is something troubling their mind.

We don’t want to see children become victims. That is why it is so important for each and every one of them to know about their harm alarm. When it goes off, the first reaction should be to leave the situation and tell a trusted adult about it.

A child that knows they are loved and trusted will know to come to you. That is what their harm alarm is for.