Tips for National Be Someone Day 2025
National
Be Someone Day is a day dedicated to speaking, listening, and having
conversations about preventing child abuse. It is also a day to report child
abuse and neglect. Every year on July 21st is a day to bring an understanding
about the mental and physical effects of child abuse and neglect. You can sign
a pledge for National Be Someone Day by Project Harmony. As well as getting
resources from Project Harmony or other websites about child abuse
prevention.
Teachers,
educators, nurses, and anyone who is a mandated reporter can report suspected
child abuse. It takes ten seconds to report suspected child abuse by contacting
local authorities. However, after making a report for suspected child abuse; It
is necessary for the family, parents, and friends to give support to someone
that experienced child abuse and neglect. It is essential that as a parent,
family member, or as a friend remain calm and listen to them about their fears.
Another way to help is by donating to child abuse and neglecting charity or
organization.
Bring awareness
by posting educational information on social media. As well as posting your
pledge for National Be Someone Day on social media. Make a reminder to be there
for a child's emotional support and wellness. Learn your child's communication
style, their preferences, and develop respectful conversations. Notice any
changes especially if they used to be outgoing and are currently withdrawn from
their friends or family.
Additionally,
notice changes in their eating, sleep, or hygiene. Understand your child's
communication style which can be assertive, aggressive, respectful,
disrespectful, and might want to avoid tough conversations. Other times they
might seem too quiet with their thoughts. Do not presume that everything is
well. Speak to your child with kindness and focus on what is being said.
Let the child express
themselves to help them with their healing process and recovery. Make sure the
child feels safe and have conversations with positivity. Listen to them without
interrupting or asking details about the abuse. Depending on their age, they
might want to express themselves through art, music, baking, or writing about
it. Carefully listen, observe, and keep a routine for doing homework,
athletics, and other activities.
At the beginning,
it can be difficult to have a conversation about child abuse prevention or a
conversation for their recovery. Keep in mind that a child might not speak to
their parents first and might seek other people to speak about their feelings.
It is recommended to remain calm and to wait for the child to express their
feelings when they are ready to speak to you as a parent. Nevertheless, have
other topics ready when you are having a conversation with your child. Use
positive statements, motivational quotes, and follow the advice from a
therapist.
In addition to professional
help from a therapist, a support group can help with the healing process of the
trauma and connect with other children or teens. Lastly, a medical doctor can
provide medical resources for them to heal physically and other resources for
therapy. Do not force them to speak about the abuse. Find a quiet area and an
area where they can feel comfortable speaking about their feelings with you.
Make sure you are calm and ready to listen.
Be prepared for listening to them without getting distracted. Also, do not do any meddling if you are a cousin, aunt, or a long distant family member. Focus on their healing process without expectations. Wait for them to speak to you. Here is a brief list of items before you have a conversation with them.
- Make sure the area is distraction-free.
- Keep the conversation simple.
- Keep your words basic and appropriate for their comprehension.
- Make sure your voice is calm.
- Let them speak and practice active listening.
- Let them ask you questions or their concerns.
- Observe their body language, facial gestures, their anger, and their frustrations.
- Set your thoughts aside.
- Let them express themselves through drawing, painting, journaling, or playing dough.
- Do eye contact, be relaxed, and understand their emotions.
Understand them
and believe what they tell you. After a suspected child abuse report has
been made, do not investigate and let the authorities investigate. If you know
someone who experienced child abuse, seek professional help. Motivate them to
continue with their studies and extra-curricular classes. Here are resources
about child abuse prevention and for National Be Someone Day.
RAINN-If You Suspect a Child Being Harmed:
If You Suspect A Child Is Being Harmed | RAINN
Project Harmony:
Be Someone Day-Project Harmony:
Be Someone Day - Project Harmony
CAP-Prevent Child Abuse:
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comment.