Parents ‘must teach their children about bad adults’

Children are no match for adults intent on harming them and they need to know that from an early age, a leading children’s charity has warned.

“Adults are going to be better at manipulation; they are physically stronger and they are able to trick children,” said Children at Risk in Ireland’s acting national clinical director Majella Ryan.

“A lot of parents worry about talking with their children about sexual abuse. They think it will ruin their childhood and steal their innocence. But we teach children about lots of dangers that exist in the world and it is really important that they know that some adults do not know how to keep them safe.