Book Review
An overview of the book
Some Secrets Should Never be Kept by Jayneen Sanders is a book that will allow parents to have that important conversation about child sexual abuse.
As a parent, there are many risks that we need to prepare our kids for. Just as we teach them road safety so that they won’t get hit by a car as they cross the road, we need to teach them protective behaviours so as to protect them from inappropriate touch ie sexual abuse.
But talking to our kids about road safety is much easier than talking about sexual abuse. When we talk to our kids about sexual abuse, we are having to tell them that sometimes adults choose to hurt children and to do stuff with them isn’t for kids. And this is a hard thing to do as we are having to teach our kids that the world isn’t always a good place, without taking away their innocence. Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept makes this hard conversation much easier.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 5 to 8 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy Some Secrets Should Never be Kept from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! Let’s talk about a fantastic book called Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneen Sanders. It’s an awesome resource to help you start important conversations with your kids about child sexual abuse and the existence of predators out there. You know, sometimes these predators are people we know, and sometimes we don’t even realize it.
This book is perfect for discussing sexual abuse with children, whether or not there’s a predator in your family. Maybe your kids heard something on the radio or at school about a scary incident, like a child being snatched or abused. Well, this book will give you the tools as a parent to have that conversation. It’s written in a gentle and beautiful way, using age-appropriate language.
The story takes place in a land not far away and follows Lady Susan, who has to work at night because she’s divorced and needs money. Her little boy, Alfred, spends time with Lord Henry, who takes care of him while his mom is busy. They have a great time together, but then Lord Henry starts tickling Alfred in a way that makes him uncomfortable. Alfred asks him to stop, but Lord Henry insists there’s no harm in it and tells him to keep it a secret. Poor Alfred feels worried and sick, and when he finally tells his mom, she reassures him and says she believes him. She also promises that he won’t have to see Lord Henry again.
The book emphasizes the importance of not keeping secrets, especially when it comes to sexual abuse. It’s a great way to introduce the topic to kids and teach them about perseverance. At the end of the book, there are some discussion points to help you further explore the subject.
I have to admit, when I first saw this book, I felt a bit uncomfortable. But when I read it with my own child, I realized it wasn’t as scary as I thought. In fact, my kid didn’t even have any questions or comments. We’ve revisited it a few times, and now with my second child, I feel completely confident using this book. It’s important to remember that discussing these tough topics is necessary, just like we talk about babies and reproduction. Books like this can be a bit tricky, but trust me, your kids will process the information in their own way. They won’t be scarred or think that every person who walks into the house is a predator.
If you’re feeling a bit uneasy about reading books like this, don’t worry! On my website, I have some helpful tips for navigating these conversations and finding the right books for your family. So be sure to check that out.
All in all, Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept is an incredible book that I highly recommend. It’s a valuable tool for starting conversations about sexual abuse with your kids. Trust me, having this book on your shelf is a great way to empower and protect your children. Cheers!
