Meet Diane Tarantini
Hello, friend!
THE BRAVE KNIGHT
Mere months before The Great Pause shut down the world,
Diane Tarantini was asked by a child safety expert to write a book that would teach children, in a non-threatening way, the concept of “grooming,” the process by which a sexual predator gains the trust of a potential victim and sometimes their family.
The Brave Knight is that book.
Latest Blogs
Am I Being Groomed for (Sexual) Abuse: 5+ signs to look out for
What does it look like when someone is plotting and planning a not-so-nice future with another individual, adult or child? I discovered the formula for abuse—relational and/or sexual—in Sandy Kirkham’s riveting memoir about her abuse experience at the hands of her youth pastor. Read on if you’re wondering: Am I being groomed for (sexual) abuse?
Consent 101: The foundation of child safety
Does your child know what consent is? If you’ve not yet discussed consent with the kids you’re raising, make sure to schedule a time to chat about it before school starts. Because really, consent is the foundation of child safety. When you explain consent to your kids, make sure they also understand body (or bodily)
Summertime Child Safety Tip #1: Spot Inspections
Does summertime child safety look different than child safety the rest of the year? Actually, it does. Which is why I’m offering up today’s child safety tip. Incidents of child sexual abuse peak at certain times. After school (ie. before parents or primary caregivers return home from work) Summertime (While parents or primary caregivers are
Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse: What helps children tell
When I found six evidence-based recommendations on the topic of “What helps children tell,” a blog post was born! As a survivor of child sexual abuse and a body safety educator in public schools, I’ve got some things to say about each of these suggestions listed on the website of the fantastic child safety organization,
“In The Brave Knight, Tarantini articulates incredibly complex child abuse grooming techniques/dynamics (ie. desensitizing physical contact, isolation from familial supports, love for perpetrators, disparity of social power), and somehow does it in an age-appropriate, non-threatening way. A brilliant, compelling, and inspiring resource for kids and those who love them.”
Robert Peters
Senior Attorney at Zero Abuse Project, founder of Shield Task Force, former prosecuting attorney, former US Marine
“This book is a wonderful tool to spark some important conversations. My 4 year old was such a fan that she asked for it to be read three times, one by each adult in the house so that everyone would know about safety. She thought the most important lesson is that a kid can always tell their mom when someone makes them feel not safe.
On a professional note, I have worked in the child safety field for over 20 years and am always so excited when good quality materials become available for kids. This book is obviously a labor of love. It does a good job of starting quality conversations that aren’t rooted in fear, but instead are centered in empowerment.”
Alison Feigh
Director of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center at Zero Abuse Project
“As a professional who works in the field of child advocacy, I would definitely recommend this book for any child in your life. Childhood sexual abuse and grooming aren’t topics that people talk about regularly and can be uncomfortable. Diane does a great job addressing abuse in a way children can understand. The Brave Knight is a great tool for starting those conversations and an invaluable resource for children and families!”
Stacy Deel
Director of Operations and Communications at West Virginia Child Advocacy Network
“This book should be in every elementary school in the United States and in the hands of every adult engaged in the health and welfare of young people. It is not only an essential resource for empowering and equipping children but a valuable resource in identifying at risk and victimized children.”
Gregory D Cooper
APRN-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
