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Routines and repetition in daily life
Sexual abuse is associated with loss of control . Predictability helps restore a sense of safety . Routines and repetition in daily life can increase a child ’ s sense of security . Routines are also important to help children acquire skills . Try to incorporate routines in the home and public settings . Routines will naturally change as the situation changes and as children grow and evolve developmentally .
EXERCISE
Workshop exercise . What is safety ?
We do this exercise to reflect on the idea of safety . This can either be as a discussion in a group or a conversation with a child .
WORK WITH CHILDREN
Instruction . Think about : 1 . What makes you feel safe ? 2 . What makes you feel unsafe ? 3 . How does it feel to be safe / unsafe ?
REFLECTION QUESTION
Questions to reflect on
• What is the natural rhythm of the day ? How do you support that rhythm ?
• Are some areas of the child ’ s life chaotic ? Can their unpredictability be reduced ?
• What areas are most challenging ? Mealtimes , transitions , bedtime ? How can you give structure to those situations ?
• How can you support families to develop new routines after transitions , particularly when children move to new homes ?
Make a physical safe place for the child
HELP AND ACTION
If possible , make a physical safe place , a comfort zone for the child , with different sensory inputs . Fill it with safe , comforting materials so that the child can rest and feel comfortable . Include books to read and toys to play with . The safe place can be at home , in school , or in kindergarten . Say that this is a special place for the child , to go to and rest whenever it needs a break , or space to itself .