Cape-AU

Has your child ever stumbled across explicit content online? It's more common than you'd think!

Here's how to handle it:
👉 Take a breathe and stay calm - this is a moment, not a catastrophe
👉 Keep the lines of communication open - start with something like 'Thanks for telling me. That must've been confusing' or 'Can you tell me what you saw and how you felt about it?'
👉 Unpack what they saw together - be simple, honest and direct with age-appropriate language. If you're not sure what to say, you can admit that.
👉 Explain why it's not meant for kids - you could say something along the lines of 'It can give really confusing ideas about bodies, relationships, and even how we treat people.'
👉 Help them rewrite the story - this is your power move! It doesn't have to be a secret they carry in shame, it can be a teachable moment, one that makes them stronger and more self-aware.
👉 Set some boundaries and tools around tech for the future - set up filters and parental controls, review the apps, games and sites they're using, it's crucial this is done in partnership with your child and not from a place of fear.
👉 Normalise these types of conversations - if you want your child to keep coming to you, you have to show them it's safe for them to do so, make these regular conversations, not just a one-time reaction.

My final thoughts on this are that you can't control every click or every image your child might stumble across, but you can control how they experience it, how they make sense of it, and how much shame or strength they walk away with.

To read the full blog, head to https://www.cape-au.com/blog/so-your-child-saw-something-explicit-online-now-what

Hey 👋 there legends

I am having some issues with this page along with followers seeing content due to the name and using child ‘a.b.u.s.e’ in the descriptions. It’s why I change the page name to CAPE-AU.

Due to this, I am now posting most content over on my Kristi McVee page.

If you’d like to keep up to date with my content and information, please go and follow me over on my personal business page. It is the most active of my business pages.

Alternatively, follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kristimcvee

Or on Tiktok at https://www.tiktok.com/tiktokcop81

Thanks again for the love and support.

Kristi

Kristi McVee | Child Safety Strategist & Educator (@kristimcvee) • Instagram photos and videos 1,669 Followers, 552 Following, 169 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Kristi McVee | Child Safety Strategist & Educator ()

After my conversation with Remi recently this rings true so much more, we really are our tiny people's voice.

The Cape Podcast Season 2, Episode 4 went live last week.

A discussion with Remi Fletcher about exposing her son’s childcare abuser.

On the theme of child care, Episode 4 is a prime example of the necessity for mandatory reporting in child care centres - which currently ISN'T mandatory, I know mind blowing!

Mum and advocate Remi speaks of her 4yo son’s sexual abuse by a child care worker at his child care. Remi goes through the various hoops she had to jump through in order to collect evidence, get the abuse reported to Police, get the case to court and her advocacy in having things better regulated in the child care industry.

Although tragic, Remi tells us of how her son’s protective behaviours and body safety
education, being the only thing that saved her son from further harm.

It is a must listen for parents of young ones.

Find the link in my bio to listen directly or find it in Spotify & Apple Podcasts easily!

>> www.podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-cape-podcast/id1698294287

Do you have a guest podcast suggestion? Please send your ideas through at [email protected].

Are you uncomfortable and scared to talk with your kids about child sexual abuse?

Believe me, I get it. Who wants to scare our kids with the reality that there are some sick and horrible people out there wanting to harm them and abuse them?

Unfortunately, it's my experience that if we aren't talking with them about protective behaviours, warning signs and red flags and letting them know what unsafe or 'tricky' behaviours look like, our kids are being left open and vulnerable to perpetrators. They are the ultimate targets of these perpetrators.

Being a parent of a 2 year old when I joined the police, meant that I had first hand knowledge and a true fear about the real dangers in the world. Things I can't even speak of with to anyone.

It ensured, I knew exactly how predatory 'abusers' can be.

It also meant, I spent my own daughter's earliest years teaching her preventative strategies and tools to keep her safe. I had a real life, first hand experience in seeing that it is possible to teach our kids about these topics without scaring them and ruining their childhoods.

It's why I wrote a book about it. I want you to be able to protect your kids from harm, abuse and the trauma that child sexual abuse WILL inflict on them. I want you to empower your kids, connect with and have great conversations and in turn help them to be happy, healthy humans.

Find out more about my book, 'Operation KidSafe - a detective's guide to child abuse prevention' via my website at www.cape-au.com/book.

Kristi ☺

So grateful to have been interviewed by Gloria from Handing the Shame Back.

Part 1 of my interview was released today on YouTube with Part 2 coming out Wednesday.

Have a listen and follow Gloria and the team of angels at Handing the Shame Back. They do amazing work!

Survivor Interview #84: Kristi McVee - Part 1 Meet Kristi McVee Speaker. Author. Ex-child abuse detective and specialist child interviewerShe was abused at 6, and told her grandma who immediately contac...

Thought I'd jump in with my own thoughts on what's 'IN & OUT' in parenting in 2024.

What we (society/parents) have done in the past when it comes to child safety isn't ALL bad, however, it's TIME TO CHANGE the future of child safety!!!

This requires us to be brave and boldly face the problem. We have the tools, we have the knowledge, NOW we just need to apply it!!!!

So here are my lists... do you have any more to add to it?

Go forth and be BRAVE legends!!!

Kristi x

2024 I am ready!!! ✨🌈🙌

2023 reflection ✅
2024 planning ✅

I have spent the whole day today reflecting on my 2023 and preparing for my 2024.

Not an easy task when my brain is telling me that ‘it’s holidays’ but I don’t want to spend the first weeks & months of 2024 without clarity and purpose. I am not here to mess around people because we have kids to keep safe!

Can’t wait to share more content, give more advice on common problems, provide more webinars and present in front of more schools, community groups and parents!

BTW if you’ve got an idea for a collaboration or wanting to see if I can be in your school or workplace, please DM me and let’s discuss more! 🙏

Keep safe and take care legends.

Kristi x

PS I look super tired 😴 because I bloody am! 😂🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

From me to you, I want to wish you and your family a SAFE and happy Christmas.

Please remember that it does not matter what is really under the tree as long as something is under it. We don't remember the THINGS we did or didn't have when we are older, we remember the feelings of joy, the excitement, the STUFF and traditions that make Christmas.

I wanted to also THANK each and every one of you for your support throughout the year. Through your follows and shares, through the conversations you had with your loved ones and communities, through watching and absorbing the things shared, you are helping in the fight against child sexual abuse.

If each and every one of us does their small part in their own lives, we can change the world because we don't change the world through big things, it's through lots of little things.

So thank you for being a part of the revolution and for fighting child sexual abuse!

Kristi x