Why Children
Don't Tell

FEAR

-Being threatened & manipulated

LOVE AND/OR KNOW THE PERSON ABUSING THEM

-Don't want that "loved one" to get into trouble

-Want the acceptance & approval of him or her

SHAME / EMBARRASSMENT

-Don't want anyone to know

BLAME THEMSELVES

-Believes it has to be their fault somehow

GUILT

LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

CONFUSION

-Mix of confusing thoughts & feelings

TOLD THIS HAPPENDED BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIAL

TOLD THEY WERE JUST PLAYING A GAME

HAVE BEEN TAUGHT TO RESPECT ADULTS / AUTHORITY FIGURES

-Believe they should not question adults / authority figures

THINKS / FEELS LIKE EVERYONE KNOWS

-That people can tell just from looking at them

DON'T WANT TO UPSET A LOVED ONE

-The Non-Abuser Parent, for example

TO PROTECT A LOVED ONE OR PET FROM ABUSE OR HARM

-Brother, Sister, Mom, Dog, etc...

-"If you tell, I will hurt ______."

-Child thinking that if they let this happen to them & not tell, then maybe it won't happen to someone else they care about

DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL BELIEVE THEM

-That's what they are being told

FEAR OF WHAT A LOVED ONE MIGHT DO TO THE ABUSER

PRIVATE MATTER THAT SHOULD NOT BE TALKED ABOUT

MAYBE IT IS NORMAL AND HAPPENS TO ALL CHILDREN

KNOWS IT IS NOT NORMAL AND FEELS VERY ALONE IN THE WORLD

-This can't possibly be happening to anyone else

THEY TOLD SOMEONE ONCE & WAS EITHER NOT BELIEVED AND/OR NOT PROTECTED