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April 16, 2025

By writingdiane / June 1, 2025

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The 2025 West Virginia Child Safety Summit in Morgantown, WV

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Are you shocked to learn that children are often a

Are you shocked to learn that children are often abused by family members?

The website linked in the image above says: "As often as 60% of the time, sexual abuse happens by someone to whom the child is related and may depend upon for care. This is called intrafamilial sexual abuse, or incest."

Because of this statistic,
When I speak in body safety assemblies,
I tell the kids:

"No one--not a stranger, not a friend, and not a family member--should look at, touch, or take pictures of your private parts...the parts of your body your bathing suit covers."

Take that line please.
And tell it to your kids once a month.
Better yet, say it once a week.

Trust me when I say it's way easier to prevent the mess than to clean it up.

#childsafety #childsafetyeducation #bodysafetyeducation #bodysafetyforkids
#keepkidssafe #protectkids #stopchildabuse #parentingtip

Are you curious as to how the heck sibling sexual

Are you curious as to how the heck sibling sexual abuse and trauma (SSA/T) happens?

This new blog post identifies 15 risk factors that may lead to sibling sexual abuse and trauma in a home.

This new list of home and family life circumstances was gathered from SSA and SST survivors from all over the world.

The post also includes ideas for SSA/T prevention.
The survivors literally say, "If ___ had happened, I don't think I would've been abused."

Find the link for this post at the top of my LinkTree which is in my bio up above.

#siblingsexualabuseawareness #siblingsexualtraumaawareness #familymatters #redflags #parentingtips #keepkidsafe #believesurvivors #healingtrauma

A day-ish in the life of a body safety educator.

A day-ish in the life of a body safety educator.

-Here's me in my custom-embellished flight suit...with my dragon's eye ring (a nod to my children's book, "The Brave Knight.").
-Here's the gym where we did our second set of assemblies that day. The floor was soooo shiny!
-Meet Clara, the school's darling--and super chill at only 1-year old--therapy dog.
-Here's the cafeteria where we did our first two assemblies. The local prosecuting attorney was in attendance and she was a BAD A$$!!!
-We may have enjoyed an adult beverage the night before. Because, I mean... Look at the name!!
-Here's the darling bed and breakfast where our team stayed. Thanks so much to Comfort House Child Advocacy Center for putting us up and feeding us lunch the next day! Lunch of champions in West Virginia = pepperoni rolls.🙂
-A selfie of me down by the river that was across from our B&B.

I love the work I do with @shieldwv!
This year the number of body safety assemblies we presented in West Virginia went way up!
Why? Because schools are recommending us.
What makes schools tell other schools about us?
Let me count the ways!

-Our presentation fulfills Erin's Law which requires K-12 schools to provide a body safety presentation once a year. FYI: Erin's Law has been passed in 38 states, including West Virginia.
-Our power point presentation is excellent and covers so many important topics: online safety, sextortion, consent, and more.
-We present dynamically so no kids fall asleep!
-Booking our presentation is way better than asking homeroom teachers to do "the talk" or handing out pamphlets that get sucked into backpack black holes.

To book your body safety assembly, visit: https://www.shieldwv.com.

#bodysafetyeducation #bodysafetyforkids #preventionispossible #stopchildabuse #childsafety #keepkidssafe #teachyourchildrenwell

Have you ever been around someone with a “hair-t

Have you ever been around someone with a “hair-trigger” temper?
That used to be me.
My brothers? If they looked at me cross-eyed, I’d send a punch flying.
My mother? Man, did she receive a lot of my wrath!

If you have a child that is super angry all the time,
Don’t assume it’s simply “teen angst.”
Because often anger is a sign that your child is going through something hard.
They’re furious because they have no control over the hard thing.
So they lash out. A lot.

If your child is experiencing abuse or bullying, they need your help.
And maybe professional help too.
Say to them—or tuck a note in their lunch box—“You seem like you’re having a hard time. How can I help?”

#angerissues #angerproblems #redflags #parentchildrelationship #parentingteens #parentinginfo #childsafety

Dear Teen: If what someone is doing to you feels

Dear Teen:

If what someone is doing to you feels wrong, it is.
No matter what the circumstance.
No matter the relationship you have with the person: stranger, friend, or family member.

These situations may include:

-Asking you to drink, vape, or do drugs.
-Looking at pornography.
-Wanting you to shoplift or vandalize someone's property.
-Having sex.
-Having "rough sex."

Studies show that in times of crisis, young people often "freeze."
That's why it's a really good idea to make a plan for times like this.

Example: Go to the bathroom and call or text an adult you trust.
Tell them where you are and ask them to come get you immediately.
Stay there until they call or text that they've arrived.

I actually wrote a blog post about exit strategies.
Here's the link if you want to check it out https://dianetarantini.com/exit-strategy/

Stay safe out there!

#exitstrategy #personalsafetyplan #safeadults #redflags #keepkidssafe #preventionispossible #bodysafety #bodysafety #bodysafetyeducator

One of my favorite things to do in the whole wide

One of my favorite things to do in the whole wide world is public readings.
And all the more if I'm reading from one of my own books!

This photo of me and my good friend and faithful supporter Jay was taken in Huntington, Best Virginia after I read for the "Writers Can Read" group.

This event was basically the public debut of my first book, "The Brave Knight."
If you don't know anything about this book, it is a fairy tale that teaches kids what "grooming" looks, sounds, and feels like.

If you don't know what "grooming" is, here's my definition: Grooming is the process a sexual predator uses to gain the trust of a potential victim and sometimes their family.

"The Brave Knight" has a bonus feature: a section of child safety resources in the back of the book. It's a great way to start a conversation with the kids you love about staying safe.
Because the truth of the matter is, grown-ups aren't with kids 24/7.

#huntingtonwv #writerscanread #pullmansquare #authorevent #bookbuddies #openmicnight #childrensbookauthor #childsafety #keepkidssafe

Diane Tarantini

Author of The Brave Knight
Child Safety Educator
Lover of cats, coffee, and sassy outfits

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Home
About
My Books
- Everyone Was Silent
- The Brave Knight
Speaking
Blog
Resources
Shop
Contact

Home
About
My Books
- Everyone Was Silent
- The Brave Knight
Speaking
Blog
Resources
Shop
Contact

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