Protecting Our Children: Teaching Body Autonomy & Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Holly Krack
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 8
For the Parents, Future Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles
& Anyone Raising or Guiding Children
I want to invite you into one of the most important conversations I’ve had on The Multiple Truths Podcast: Protecting Our Children: Teaching Body Autonomy & Sexual Abuse Prevention, with Victoria Barendsen.
Victoria is a registered psychologist, trauma specialist, and founder of The Safe Kids Project, whose mission is to empower parents with the tools and confidence to raise safe, body-aware children, starting from the earliest years. She brings deep wisdom and devotion to this work, and I truly see and honor her. Her work, her expertise, and her experience are so deeply needed in our world today.
Globally, 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 7 boys experience some form of sexual violence before the age of 18.
That is unacceptable.
Sexual abuse is preventable. And prevention doesn’t begin with fear, it begins at home, with empowerment, and everyday conversations about body autonomy, boundaries, and consent.
I truly believe parents and caretakers are a huge part of changing the world. The ones willing to move through the discomfort and start teaching their kids about consent, safety, healthy sexuality, and the sacredness of their bodies, not as a scary one-time talk, but as something gently woven into everyday life. It's uncomfortable, but it cannot be pushed under the rug or avoided any longer. Too many have been hurt by the neglect.
I’ve worked with hundreds of women at this point, and it completely guts me that 9 times out of 10, they’ve experienced some form of sexual assault as children. These are life-altering experiences that shape how they view their bodies, sex, intimacy, and relationships. It can distort their sense of self, especially when it hasn’t been held or talked about with care. But we can change that. These conversations can prevent abuse and protect the innocence of childhood.
In the episode, we explore vital questions, such as:
What exactly does “body safety” mean, and why is it essential for parents and caregivers to understand and practice it every day?
What are simple, age-appropriate ways to talk to kids about consent, private parts, and body boundaries and when should we begin?
How can we build a relationship where kids feel safe coming to us if something inappropriate happens?
If a child discloses abuse, how can a parent respond in that moment and what do children most need?
What signs might indicate that a child is experiencing abuse, emotionally and behaviorally?
What should parents consider or be mindful of before agreeing to a sleepover?
We also talk about how to navigate these conversations with compassion and grace for yourself, since these weren’t conversations you had either, but we need them now. We have the knowledge to do things differently and it’s better to move through the uncomfortable and weave these conversations into everyday life than wait until it’s too late.
The hard truth is: this typically isn’t happening at the hands of strangers. This is happening within families, often by a family member, a close family friend, and often by other children, usually older ones who are exploring.
It’s confusing for a child when they’ve never had conversations about their body, what’s okay and not okay, or how to speak up when something feels off. It happens far too often, and now, we know better. We know how prevalent it is. And there’s no going back to pretending we don’t see it.
I learned SO much from Victoria, things I know I will absolutely implement with my future children, and it is my prayer that you feel inspired to do the same. Because this is important, it’s necessary, and I feel it is truly life-saving, it’s how we are going to stop these toxic generational cycles of sexual abuse.
We must protect our children and create a safer world for everyone, and it starts in our homes.
This isn’t about fear, it’s about empowerment. And I really, really hope you give it a listen. 🤍
OR watch on YouTube
You can learn more about and get resources from Victoria Barendsen here:
Sending you love,
Holly
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