There has been a rise in the number of recorded sex offences against children aged four to eight in Essex.
In 2016/17 there were 286 sex crimes recorded by Essex Police against young children aged four to eight, up from 275 in 2015/16.
The figures, gathered by the NSPCC through a Freedom of Information request, come as the charity relaunches their Talk PANTS campaign this half term.
Talk PANTS helps parents with children aged eight and under to have the vital conversation about staying safe from sexual abuse, by teaching them important messages such as their privates are private.
Research conducted by the NSPCC found many parents were worried that talking to their young children about sexual abuse would be scary and confusing for them.
It is understandable that parents are hesitant about talking to their children about these topics since it could leave them feeling confused and vulnerable.
There has been a growing concern about the ages that children are exposed to adult content with the dangers of the internet. Being exposed to pornography at a young age can have a serious effect on children and teenagers.
Increased numbers of teenagers are displaying signs of masturbation addiction, partly caused by internet porn. Furthermore, the internet is often used by sex criminals to victimize children who have unmonitored access to it.
However, parents can help protect their children from both virtual and physical sex crimes by making sure their children feel comfortable talking about sex and privacy with them.
To combat the issue of sexual abuse the NSPCC has created a catchy song and activity pack – with cartoon dinosaur Pantosaurus – which don’t mention the words sex or abuse so it is easier for parents to tackle the sensitive subject.
The charity has also produced a fun video which shows other young children using the PANTS activities.
