My three year old daughter woke up while I was watching the news and asked me what rape means?

Question

I was watching the news at 10:30 pm and my three year old Daughter came and asked me what rape means, she won't stop bothing me, what do I tell her.

(by the way she heard the word rape on TV)

Answer 1

just tell he but not in graphic details just say that is what some men do to girls and that they have a problem and it isnt a nice thing that they do to women

Answer 2

tell her it means to attack some one and its a bad word

Answer 3

At the age of three I would just tell her that it is when someone touches another person physically in a way that they do not like, and after having been asked to stop, they refuse to stop touching them and hurting them.

But I would also let her know that mommies and daddies are there to protect children from that sort of thing, and that it is illegal and the police are there to protect people from it.  This way she will not start being afraid that it will happen to her - but if it does - she will know there are people there to help her.

Answer 4

Perhaps you should monitor what your child watches.

Why is she even awake at 10:30?

EDIT: I would just like to apologize to the person who made the topic. I've been trying to conceive for years now and I'm feeling very down right now. I just had a lapse where I thought I would love to have a child right now and go through this kind of problem. So sorry for being so rude.

Answer 5

Well, personally I have chosen as a parent not to lie to my child.   He knows the tooth fairy does not exist....etc.  

I told him that I am telling him one big lie that he will find out about someday - Santa Claus.   So I let him believe this one, but also told him I was lying to him.... just thought taking Santa Claus away would be too much.

But on everything else, I tell him the truth.  

So I would tell your daughter...."Honey, rape is when someone does something to you that involves your pee-pee or their pee-pee or both.  Something that you do not want to do but they make you to do it anyway.  

I would also make sure to tell her that nobody should ever be looking at her pee-pee without mommy or daddy saying it is ok.  A doctor may need to look, mommy may need to look...but mommy or daddy must know about it.  And if anyone tries to look that she should tell you as soon as she can. Or if someone shows their pee-pee to her...she needs to tell you.

Answer 6

I would tell her that they were talking about something far away from hear that does not pertain to us and it is nothing about kids so she will be very safe! Then quickly change the subject. Most 3 year olds will forget it very soon!

Answer 7

i just wanna mention rape is not just when a guy does something to a girl. girls can rape too. and they do.

Answer 8

Tell its when someone is forced to do something they dont wanna do. I dont agree with you saying its something mean that men do to woman. Because woman are capable of rape too.

Answer 9

Tell her they didn't say rape but scrape she just heard it wrong

Answer 10

tell her that its what bad men do to girls and tell her its a bad word

Answer 11

just tell her something like...

"It's when someone very mean tries to hurt someone else in the bathingsuit area"

Answer 12

Well honestly at three she is old enough for the talk about no one touching you in those areas. Explain that when someone does this it is called rape. And stress the importance of her telling you if anyone ever does. I started with my kids at this age, a lot of kids are this age when it happens. Educating a child about child molestation is key to preventing it and them feeling comfortable enough to tell you if anything ever happens.

If you do have the talk make sure you express to her that NO ONE can touch her or ask her touch them. I have told my kids, not mommy, not daddy, not grandparents, teachers, friends. If a Dr. has to I will be in the room with you. And I agree saying when a person does it to another person, it is still rape if a woman does it, or if a man does it to a boy. Rape is not gender bound.

Answer 13

You can just tell her that "rape" is when a boy hurts a girl in the area that her bathing suit covers.  That's all she needs to know at this point.

Answer 14

Three year olds are full of questions about everything!  And when you give the answer, they respond with "why?"

I think my answer to your child's question would be, " When someone does something to you that makes you feel 'yucky'."

And add, "You can always tell me if someone does something to you that makes you feel 'yucky'."

Your daughter will probably not remember your definition of the word "rape."  But she will zero in on your discomfort in telling her about it!

Answer 15

I told my kids when they heard the word that it was when a boy/man forcefully against your wishes - harms your body. That when someone holds you down and violates you even when you say/scream no. I told them not to throw that word around on the playground when a boy is being a brat, though- because it's much more awful than rough housing.

They were not traumatized by the news. Information arms your child. Please just tell her if she's asking.

Answer 16

I say you give her the correct answer. Tell her gently. It will get her off your back about this situation and she will soon forget. It's something you cannot help, it's what this world has come to.

Answer 17

she is only 3. I would just distract her. 3 year olds are easily distracted and forget things quickly enough.

Answer 18

i agree .

say its when a person

hurts another person

in the bathing suit area

and that its a bad word that

should not be said.

(you dont want her running around saying it)