~193~TRIGGER WARNING:"Protecting Teens from sexual abuse without fear" WITH JENNY COLEMAN

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</p><p>#TeenParenting</p><p> #TeenSafety</p><p> #ParentingAdvice</p><p> #ParentingPodcast</p><p> #ChildSafety</p><p> #ChildSexualAbusePrevention</p><h2>How to Protect Your Teen Without Parenting in Fear: A Conversation Every Parent Needs to Hear</h2><p>Talking about child sexual abuse and teen safety can feel frightening, uncomfortable, and overwhelming. But avoiding the conversation doesn't protect our kids. Knowledge, connection, boundaries, and open communication can.</p><p>In this important episode of <em>Parenting Teens: Advice Redefined for Today's Complex World</em>, Cheryl Pankhurst sits down with Jenny Coleman, Director of Stop It Now!, to talk honestly about preventing child sexual abuse without parenting from a place of fear.</p><p>This conversation goes beyond "stranger danger" and explores what parents, caregivers, educators, and communities can do proactively to create safer environments for children and teenagers.</p><p>Together, Cheryl and Jenny discuss:</p><ul><li>What child sexual abuse actually means, including contact and non-contact abuse</li><li>Why prevention matters and how we can move from reactive parenting to proactive awareness</li><li>Why "stranger danger" may actually interfere with prevention</li><li>How to talk to teens about boundaries, consent, privacy, and personal safety</li><li>How parents can create an environment where teens feel safe coming to them with difficult information</li><li>The importance of checking your tone, body language, and reactions when your teen tells you something difficult</li><li>What it means to be an "upstander" instead of a bystander</li><li>Warning signs that parents, educators, and caring adults should pay attention to</li><li>How online relationships and digital spaces can create additional vulnerabilities</li><li>Why speaking up matters, even when you're worried you might be wrong</li><li>How adults and young people can seek confidential support before harm occurs</li><li>The importance of reducing shame and isolation when someone recognizes they may be at risk of crossing a boundary</li></ul><p>One of the most powerful messages in this episode is that prevention is not about frightening our kids or making them afraid of the world.</p><p>It's about helping them develop language, confidence, boundaries, self-awareness, and trusted relationships.</p><p>Because the goal isn't to make our teenagers scared to tell us something.</p><p>The goal is to make sure they know they can.</p><h3>Resources Mentioned in This Episode</h3><p><strong>Stop It Now!</strong></p><p>A child sexual abuse prevention organization offering resources, education, consultation, and support for adults, families, and communities.</p><p><strong>What's OK?</strong></p><p>A confidential resource designed specifically for young people who have questions or concerns about sexual thoughts, behaviours, boundaries, relationships, or safety.</p><p>Visit:</p><ul><li>Stop It Now!</li><li>What's OK?</li></ul><h3>About Jenny Coleman</h3><p>Jenny Coleman is the Director of Stop It Now! and a clinician, educator, and advocate with more than 30 years of experience working with youth and families.</p><p>Her work focuses on prevention, education, safer communities, and helping adults recognize warning signs and take action before harm occurs.</p><p><br></p><p>Jenny Coleman</p><p><br></p><p><a href="whatsok.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);">whatsok.org</a><span style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);"> | </span><a href="stopitnow.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(31, 31, 31);">stopitnow.org</a></p><p><br></p><h3>About Cheryl Pankhurst</h3><p>Cheryl Pankhurst is an Educational Strategist, Family Advocate, speaker, published author, and former Special Education Specialist with more than 25 years of experience supporting families and adolescents.</p><p>Through her work at Insight to Impact and her podcast, <em>Parenting Teens: Advice