The story of Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking and sexual abuse of girls has inspired seemingly endless commentary. There has been politicizing, finger pointing and head shaking. But amidst all of this, we fail to address the key truth at the center of this story, which is that sexual abuse is the most common serious threat facing all of our children…read more

Pediatric emergency medicine physician Bronwen Carroll discusses her article, "The childhood risk we never talk about." Bronwen explains the staggering data showing child sexual abuse is far more common than many other hazards (like choking or drowning) that parents routinely prioritize for prevention. She explores why this epidemic of sexual abuse lives in the shadows: the topic feels taboo and the solutions often seem vague compared to installing a car seat. Bronwen breaks down a practical, three-pronged approach to child safety, focusing on access, compliance, and (most critically) secrecy. She provides a simple, non-threatening, and powerful conversation starter for all parents: teaching children that no adult should ever ask them to keep a secret, and clarifying the crucial difference between a harmful "secret" and a happy "surprise." Learn the essential strategies every parent needs to know to start this difficult conversation and empower their kids.

Parents are inundated with advice and guidance on all manner of topics from an array of sources, but as a pediatric emergency medicine physician, I have been astonished to realize that parents hear almost nothing about the risk that actually poses the greatest threat of causing serious harm to their children. Approximately 10 percent of children in the United States experience sexual abuse, with one in four girls and somewhere between one in seven and one in thirteen boys sexually assaulted before age 18, and some studies finding rates even higher than these…read more

As I read about the arrest of Brian Hinds, the Louisville high school teacher charged with distribution of child sexual abuse materials last month, I could have predicted much of the subsequent story as soon as I got through the first sentence. Child predators follow predictable patterns. They're like a football team that keeps winning with a single play and has nobody watching the tapes to notice…read more

The most common bad thing that happens to children is inexplicably also something that we rarely talk about. Ten percent of children are sexually assaulted before age 18 (Pérez-Fuentes and colleagues, 2012), and yet sexual abuse remains in our cultural shadows. Parents receive little to no education on preventing sexual abuse, and while news stories abound when the latest sex scandal involving kids breaks, sexual abuse prevention receives little attention from mainstream media.…read more

In a typical pediatrician visit, routine questions about sleep, appetite and school follow discussions of vitals and growth charts.

But as children grow into preteens and teens, doctors sometimes ask parents to step out of the room for a brief moment, giving kids a private space to speak openly with their medical provider…read more

While parents of young children receive anticipatory guidance on all manner of safety concerns for their children, recommendations on how to prevent sexual abuse are woefully absent from most parents’ experiences. Unfortunately, ten percent of children are sexually assaulted before they turn 18, making sexual abuse the most common serious threat that kids face. While it’s certainly never too late to start talking to kids about sexual abuse, and even young adults should be taking measures to protect themselves, speaking to children early and often is unquestionably the best approach. Taking initial steps with very young children to protect them from victimization lays a strong foundation for working together to learn and develop preventative strategies in the future.…read more

As I read about the South Florida families suing Roblox after their daughters were sexually abused or sexually exploited by child predators they met online, I could have predicted much of the subsequent story as soon as I got through the first sentence.

Child predators follow predictable patterns. They’re like a football team that keeps winning with a single play and has nobody watching the tapes to notice. But if we just started teaching families and children to recognize and defend against it, we could change the trajectory of a public health emergency that has gone on for far too long.

Bronwen Carroll is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Boston Medical Center. (courtesy, Bronwen Carroll, photography by Emanuel Kharasch).…read more