Why Dont Children Tell?
Why Don’t Children Tell?
Most children don't tell even if they have been asked, refuse to talk about it or deny that something happened because:
Are too young to put what has happened into words
Were threatened or bribed by the abuser to keep the abuse a secret
Fear that they will be taken away from their family
Are afraid no one will believe them
The abuser promised gifts or rewards for keeping the secret
Blame themselves or believe the abuse is punishment for being "bad"
Feel too ashamed or embarrassed to tell
Worry about getting into trouble or getting a loved one into trouble
Most children don't tell even if they have been asked, refuse to talk about it or deny that something happened because:
Are too young to put what has happened into words
Were threatened or bribed by the abuser to keep the abuse a secret
Fear that they will be taken away from their family
Are afraid no one will believe them
The abuser promised gifts or rewards for keeping the secret
Blame themselves or believe the abuse is punishment for being "bad"
Feel too ashamed or embarrassed to tell
Worry about getting into trouble or getting a loved one into trouble
Replies
My ex\'s victim (actually there were more, but she\'s the one he got to), was too young at the time to know what he was doing. It never occurred to the fool that she\'d get older and figure out that something wasn\'t right.
That was me as well... I realized thinking back as a 12 year old things he did were his beginning signs of being a sexual predator... thinking back now I see hundreds of signs