A child may approach a trusted adult in private and speak directly and specifically about the abuse. Unfortunately, this is one of the less common ways for children to disclose.

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For example, "Grandpa touches me," "Daddy gets in bed with me at night."

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A child may talk indirectly because she/he hasn’t learned more specific vocabulary, feels too ashamed or embarrassed to talk more directly or has promised not to tell.

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For example: "My brother wouldn’t let me sleep last night," "Mr. Jones wears funny underwear," "My babysitter keeps bothering me."

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The child might be talking about a friend or a sibling, but she/he may be talking about her/himself.

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For example, "I know someone who is being touched in a bad way," "What would happen if a girl told her mother she was being bothered but her mother didn’t believe her?"

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Children are often afraid negative consequences will result if they break the secret of abuse because, often, the offender has threatened them.

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For example, "I have a problem, but if I tell you about it you have to promise not to tell anyone else," "Can you keep a secret?"   .

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