Some harm never leaves a mark on the skin.But it can still leave a child feeling scared, confused, or deeply unsafe. Non-contact sexual abuse is real
Some harm never leaves a mark on the skin.
But it can still leave a child feeling scared, confused, or deeply unsafe.
Non-contact sexual abuse is real.
And children deserve adults who recognize it, name it, and stop it.
What Is Non-Contact Sexual Abuse?
Non-contact sexual abuse happens when someone crosses a child’s boundaries – boundaries that they deserve- in sexual ways without touching them.
It can look quiet.
It can look “small.”
It can even be passed off as a joke.
But it is never harmless.
And it is never the child’s fault.
Examples Safe Adults Should Never Ignore
Showing a child private images
Making sexual comments, jokes, or “playful” suggestions
Exposing oneself to a child
Forcing a child to watch adult acts
Taking photos of a child in a sexual way
Sending sexual texts, messages, or videos
Asking a child for nude pictures
Standing too close, staring in ways that feel wrong, or watching a child in private moments
Using screens, games, or chats to introduce sexual content
These behaviors break trust.
They create fear.
They rob children of the peace they deserve.
Why This Matters
Children often don’t have the words for what feels “yucky,” “scary,” or “not right.”
Many worry they’ll get in trouble.
Others freeze because the adult is trusted, respected, or in authority.
Safe adults protect children by being clear, calm, and firm about boundaries.
We don’t wait for bruises.
We step in the moment anything feels off.
What We Want Every Child to Know
Your body and your mind belong to you.
You never have to watch, hear, or look at anything that feels confusing or unsafe.
If a grownup or older kid makes you uncomfortable, you can tell a Safe Person.
You deserve peace, protection, and respect—every single day.
What Safe Adults Can Do
Trust children when they tell us they feel uneasy
Respond with calm protection, not questions that shame
Keep harmful adults away from children
Teach kids the difference between surprises and secrets
Normalize saying “I don’t like that” and “Stop”
Make sure children know who their Safe People are
Intervene early—before patterns grow into deeper harm
Children thrive when their boundaries are honored.
A Promise From Us
Here at RosasChildren, we believe every child deserves a world where adults protect them—not pressure them, confuse them, or silence them.
Non-contact harm counts.
It always has.
And we will keep naming it, so children never have to carry the confusion alone.