The winter holidays are some of the most anticipated days of the year for kids and adults alike. There can be a certain kind of magic about this time of year… and chaos, too. Visitors abound, schedules are hectic, parents might be overwhelmed, and in the wrong situation, abusers take advantage. In fact, rates of …
Child sexual abuse is a complex issue. You’ve probably heard a lot of headlines in the news recently about child sexual abuse even though it may be referred to as ‘molestation,’ ‘assault,’ or ‘rape.’ For a topic that is beginning to be talked about more openly, you may not know what words and language to …
Are your Kids Scared to Sit with Santa? Here are 8 Cute Alternatives. During December, our social media feeds are filled with holiday photos, featuring everything from family members sharing their Christmas card photos to friends’ kids taking their annual photo with Santa. Getting that photo can be a little tougher than you thought if …
According to the New York Times, tech companies reported over 45 million online photos and videos of children being sexually abused in 2018 – more than double what they found the previous year. For parents, caregivers, and concerned citizens, headlines like this can be overwhelming and disheartening. How can this be the case? And how …
As an educator or staff member, you know how vital school experiences are for kids and how it leads to many positive growth opportunities. The student’s safety is your number one priority – so how can you make sure they are safe within the school’s walls and also convey that message to the children in …
Darkness to Light announces more than 1.8 million adults trained to prevent child sexual abuse. In February of 2019 we reached an amazing milestone: we trained 1.7 million adults to prevent child sexual abuse! We were thrilled. However, this wasn’t enough for our Authorized Facilitators and Instructors. Through their dedication and partnership, 100,000 more adults …
As we approach the end of the year, our team has been reflecting on the amazing things we’ve achieved in collaboration with our partners – from surpassing 1.8 million adults trained to launching our new prevention paradigm. We continue to push forward to help better protect children and as we look forward to 2020, we …
Aly Raisman joined Darkness to Light’s third annual IGNITE Conference as a keynote speaker. BOSTON – October 28, 2019 – Aly Raisman, abuse prevention advocate and Darkness to Light Ambassador, appeared as a keynote speaker at IGNITE 2019 on October 8th and 9th, 2019 at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center in Massachusetts. IGNITE …
Halloween is a tricky holiday for safety (see what we did there?). You have to hold allowing children to build independence and resilience in tension with maintaining a protective environment for your child. Kids need to learn to be savvy and street smart, but parents must also recognize that it’s their responsibility to keep their …
Darkness to Light presented our national awards at our National Prevention Conference, IGNITE 2019. During IGNITE 2019, Darkness to Light recognized individuals who have gone above and beyond to further the mission of ending child sexual abuse. Awards presented included Instructor of the Year, Facilitator of the Year, and the Partner in Prevention Leadership Award. …
A “bystander” is a person who witnesses a boundary violation or sees a situation in which a child is vulnerable. Active bystanding is key for preventing child sexual abuse. Intervening or taking preventative measures as a bystander can mean the difference between a child being sexually abused or being protected from abuse. We can be active, …
Darkness to Light partners with Monique Burr Foundation for Children to launch Prevent 360°, a comprehensive approach to prevent child abuse. Two of the nation’s leading advocates for the prevention of child abuse and bullying announced a partnership today called Prevent 360°. Protecting children from sexual abuse and other types of victimization requires a 360° …
In the 1980s, the American Medical Association distributed a widely viewed public safety announcement encouraging parents to teach their children about “Stranger Danger.” In the 30-second clip, a man drives up to a young girl on her way to school. He begins a conversation with her and she responds, because her parents have “taught [their] …
It’s that time of year again – back to school! Back to a daily routine, including morning carpool and extracurricular afterschool activities. Educators partner with parents to help teach kids the skills they need to succeed and prepare your child for the future. This includes caring for, supervising, and ultimately protecting students in their care. …
Sometimes, it happens. You need someone to watch your kids but none of your regular babysitters are available. You’re desperate—you must hire a sitter you’ve never met. What do you do when you don’t know the person watching your kids? Of course, best practice suggests that you prescreen your childcare providers, check references, and hold …
As our fiscal year comes to an end, we want to take a moment to look back on what YOU have helped Darkness to Light accomplish – primarily, that more children than ever are safe because of your support. In partnership with thousands of volunteers worldwide, more than 1.7 million adults have been trained to prevent, recognize, …
Darkness to Light announces third annual child abuse prevention conference. Darkness to Light announces its third annual national child sexual abuse prevention conference, Ignite 2019, October 8-9 in Boston, MA. The conference brings together sexual abuse prevention leaders from across the country around the common goal of making communities safer for children. Marci Hamilton, the Founder, CEO, and …
In many places school is out and kids’ summer activities are getting started – riding bikes all day, pool parties, sleepovers, and summer camps. You make sure your kids are prepared with helmets and swim lessons, but have you thought about how to prepare them to be away safely overnight and have safer sleepovers? Sleepovers …
Featuring brave testimonials from athletes at the center of the story, At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal reveals a dangerous system that prioritized winning over everything else, including protecting young female athletes. At the Heart of Gold, a powerful documentary directed by Erin Lee Carr, documents the failings of the organizations …
As adults, there are small things we can do everyday to protect children. This starts with the courage to stand up for children if we see they are uncomfortable. Even if it’s something as small as someone else forcing your child to hug, it’s OK to empower children to say “no.” This simple act teaches …