April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The issue of sexual assault prevention has gotten a lot of press, especially for young adults in college. The “It’s On Us” campaign promotes awareness that everyone needs to stand together to prevent sexual assault. The campaign encourages people not to be bystanders and to speak up and step up to prevent sexual assault of both women and men.  You can go to www.itsonus.org for more information, and you can take an online pledge.

Another movement directed toward young adults is the consent condoms campaign. Say It With A Condom released its consent line last year, and now offers condoms with sayings like “Ask me what I’m asking for” and “Get a yes before you undress.” These condoms and messages have become popular on college campuses, sparking increased conversations about consensual activity among young adults.

However, we can’t wait until our kids are young adults to start talking to them about sexual assault prevention.  The challenge is how to talk to our children about such a horrible topic without totally freaking them (and us) out.

Instead of avoiding the topic, try reading a book together. Some of my favorites are:

• “It’s My Body” by Lori Britain

• “Telling Isn’t Tattling” by Kathryn M. Hammerseng

• Robie Harris’s series “It’s Not the Stork!” (ages 4 and up); “It’s So Amazing” (ages 7 and up); and “It’s Perfectly Normal” (ages 10 and up). Each has a section on safety and touch.

If you decide to read books together, always check them out first as parents to see what fits for you and your family.

If you’re up for more than reading, you can have King County Sexual Assault Resource Center staff come to your next book club meeting. They will provide copies of the book “He Told Me Not to Tell,” as well as staff to answer questions following your discussion of this resource, which explains how parents can talk to children about sexual abuse and assault.

Also, you can host a Conversation Party at your next PTA meeting, or at your church or home. Gather some families together, and King County Sexual Assault Resource Center will provide party instructions, as well as conversations and media clips to get you started. Go here for more information: www.kcsarc.org/presentations

Educated kids are less likely to be abused and assaulted. They know what to be aware of, they know what to do and they know who to tell.

Take time this month to have some conversations about sexual abuse and assault. It’s on you.

Amy Johnson, MSW, is a trainer, educator and coach in the Pacific Northwest. She is co-author of the books, “Parenting by Strengths: A Parent’s Guide for Challenging Situations” and “Homegrown Faith and Justice.” Amy facilitates classes and workshops in the Puget Sound area and online. She specializes in working with parents and in sexuality education. Amy can be reached at comments@diligentjoy.com.