Regional Child Protection Center
1215 Pleasant Street, Suite 303
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.241.4311
If you suspect a child is being physically or sexually abused or neglected, call the Department of Human Services - Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.362.2178.
What Children Should Know
By age 5, children should:
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Use correct terms for all body parts.
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Understand their bodies belong to them and they can say NO to mixed-up touch.
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Be able to talk about body parts without a sense of being naughty.
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Be able to ask questions about sex.
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Begin establishing a sense of modesty and personal privacy.
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Sexual assault of children is an important subject. It's also a frightening subject no one likes to think about. Because sexual assault of children happens every day, it's important that you as parents learn more about this issue and educate your children to prevent them from becoming victims.