Off Limits: A Parent's Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse

by Sandy K. Wurtele, Feather Berkower

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

176 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[bookandachai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got back from Feather's 4 hour seminar and it's currently *the* most important 4 hours I have spent for my daughter. We went through a lot of what is in this book but I will be reading and giving to everyone I know (including Steve). If you are a parent, or caregiver, you must read this book. If Father is doing a seminar near you, do yourself, and your children the service of attending.

[Emily Pool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a hard book to read but so important. I'll be implementing some things from this book right away. I don't want to live in fear and want to give my kids the language to talk about their bodies in our family.

[Rachel Desmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! very informative and quickly/efficiently shared what it was trying to. The stories from the kids were tough to read. I learned some new things too, despite having prior training. Would be great for community members or parents to read!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for any concerned parent. My naiveté about sexual abuse has made me an ill-prepared to arm my children in this increasingly dangerous world. Off Limits: A Parent’s Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse helped bridge this gap for me. It was a superb book.

Topics include identifying traits of those who abuse, learning the process those abusers use to get a child to submit, equipping children with a plan on how to handle a situation if they encounter one, teaching children about body safety and making your home safe, and talking to caregivers about safety, to name a few.

The book is filled with nuggets or “safety tips”. For example, one was making a rule about not keeping secrets in your family. Surprises are okay, but secrets are not. Surprises are fun to keep and are eventually told. Secrets don’t feel good to keep and are not ever meant to be shared. It’s important for kids to learn the differences and to teach them how to respond to a potential abuser. The “my family doesn’t keep secrets from each other” comment has actually dissuaded admitted sexual abusers. They simply found another kid who would keep a secret.

Off Limits also covers on-line predators, an increasing danger with the explosion of media use among older children and teens. The book even goes on discuss how to help a child if he is abused or how to help children/teens who abuse others. There are many resources included in the appendix as well.

So thorough, so researched, so informative, so practical. I strongly recommend Off Limits by Sandy Wurtele and Feather Berkower.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolute must read for parents and anyone who works with children. This book teaches common characteristics of sexual abusers, helps the reader to understand the process by which abusers gain "access" to their children, how to respond and intervene when you have suspicions of sexual abuse and tips on how to empower your children and youth with body safety tips to help keep them safe (as well as includes a special section for adolescents about online sexual predators). I highly recommend this book and implementing the body safety rules with your children.

[Berslon Pank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good guide. There are basic principals for keeping your kid safe that you can enact in your life how you see fit. The most important part of the book are the 7 body safe rules. Everything else the book recommends flows from those rules.

There is so much in the book that you can beat yourself up trying to remember it all, but if you remember the 7 body safe rules your kid will have a very solid foundation to keep herself safe and by keeping those rules in mind you can build a safe space even if you can't remember every single tip in the book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for parents. An excellent resource of current information and a reminder of facts we've heard before. I had no idea that some sexual predators take the time to "groom" our children for their uses. Scary. Some of the warning signs that a child/teen might be the victim of abused were surprising, i.e., obsessed with being the perfect student. One of the authors, Feather Berkower, has presented workshops on "Parenting Safe Children" at my granddaughter's school.

[Kb · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERY PARENT SHOULD READ THIS. AND THEN READ IT AGAIN. AND GIVE THE BOOK TO EVERY PARENT THEY ENCOUNTER. It is a child self-empowering book that helps keep your kid "off limits" from sexual predators. Learn what you can do to empower your child to stay safe and to make him/her less attractive to a predator. Predators are everywhere and THEY ARE PEOPLE YOU KNOW.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book about protecting your kids from child predators. Very important for all parents and care givers.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a fun read, but an important one. I've implemented lots that I have learned and really believe my children are safer and I'm less fearful (smart tools so no longer immobilized by fear)

[Brooke Dilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would encourage every parent to read this book. Very informative. Knowledge is power.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish this book was available in the local libraries, so everyone had access.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is highly recommended for parents to read by the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. If you have children, you should read this book. The safety tips throughout the book are informative and easily actionable in educating kids.