Sexual Abuse Prevention Training for Preschoolers -- Implications for Moral Development

• NCJ Number: 132153
• Journal: Children and Youth Services Review Volume: 13 Dated: (1991) Pages: 61-75
• Author(s): J D Berrick
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-1163
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Child sexual abuse prevention education is taught to children of all ages, beginning with preschoolers. However, because of their limited cognitive and moral development, children of such a young age may not be able to understand the elemental concepts upon which many prevention programs are based.

Abstract

The programs stress the immorality of the physical aspect of child sexual abuse and teach children concrete prevention skills. Preschool-age children cannot intellectually process and use most prevention instruction because of their inability to understand subjective responsibility. Furthermore, many young children are left with feelings of guilt or shame following prevention programming. Since child sexual abuse involves issues not only of physical touching but also of mutuality, power, consent, and exploitation, teachers and day care workers should concentrate on fostering children's moral development by incorporating modeling behavior and regular moral instruction in the classroom. 48 references (Author abstract modified)