Along with correctly identifying people, it is also important to be clear about children's terminology for body parts and for sexual acts. The surest way to do that is for the interviewer to determine and use whatever words a child uses. Parents or caretakers may be able to , provide this information prior to interviews with children, but sometimes they either do not know their children's terminology, think their children have no words for genitalia, or provide terminology that is different from what their children may tell the interviewer in conversation. Therefore, it is important for the interviewer to try to obtain this information directly from the child. It may be easiest to do this in an anxiety free context that is not associated with questions about sexual abuse, touching, or secrets; that is, relatively early in the interview, once the child becomes comfortable with the interviewer and has developed some level of rapport. Although talking about sexual body parts is not something most children are terribly comfortable with, it is not as difficult as it may seem; it can be turned into an activity that is nonthreatening or even fun, depending on the attitude and comfort level of the interviewer.

One of the easiest ways to do this is through drawings of human figures using colored marking pens (preferably water based, or else the interviewer will soon need a new wardrobe!). Although preprinted anatomically correct drawings currently are available, artistic ability is optional for this exercise, and drawing together helps in building rapport. In fact, children often like it when adults cannot draw much better than they can. One way to engage children in this activity is for the interviewer to tell them, "If you can guess what I'm drawing, you can help me finish it." The interviewer then draws the outline of a person, face forward with arms and legs extended. Most children will figure it out right away, no matter how primitive or abstract the drawing, and the child and interviewer can laugh together at what a "crummy" artist the interviewer is. The child is then encouraged to help by picking a pen of his or her favorite color and giving the person a face. As the child draws each body part, such as eyes, nose, and so on, the interviewer can ask the child what it is called and write it down on the paper, drawing a line between the word and the part of the body indicated. The child can be given encouragement through this process through remarks on how smart he or she is for knowing the various parts of the body. At the point where a child is likely to begin drawing clothes on the figure, the interviewer can ask the child to draw the dot or "button" in the middle of the tummy the one that everyone has, regardless of whether a person is a boy or a girl. The purpose of this is to establish that the figure is naked before the interviewer has to dissuade the child from drawing on clothes; it is also a nonthreatening part of the body, which is easy to draw, and which most children call a "belly button." (see Sexually Abused Children | Names for Body Parts and Sexual Acts Part II)

About The Author
David Crawford is the CEO and owner of a Male Enhancement Reviews company known as Male Enhancement Group which is dedicated to researching and comparing male enhancement products in order to determine which male enhancement product is safer and more effective than other products on the market. Copyright 2011 David Crawford of Best Male Enhancement This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.