Why Children Don't Tell

About sexual abuse:

• Children have been taught to obey adults.
• Children may be scared to tell. The molester may have threatened them.
• Children may feel guilty about sexual abuse. They may believe that it is somehow their fault.
• Children may be confused because the molester is usually someone they know and usually trust.
• Children may have been convinced by the molester that the abuse is okay or normal.
• Children may have promised to keep the abuse a secret.

About physical abuse:
The child may:

• Love the parent despite the abuse and fear the consequences of reporting.
• View the abuse as normal discipline.
• Feel deserving of the abuse.
• Feel helpless and have little hope that the situation can be changed.
• Feel ashamed or isolated without the necessary support system to make changes.
• Lack assertiveness skills necessary to tell.
• Not know what to do about it.