Volunteer your time.  Get involved with other parents in your community.  Help vulnerable children and their families.  Simple support for children and parents can be one of the best ways to prevent child abuse.  Get involved in after school activities, mentoring programs, and other activities that involve  children. 

Discipline your own children thoughtfully.  Never discipline your child when you are upset.  Give yourself  time to calm down.  Discipline is a way to teach your children.  Use privileges to encourage good behavior  and time-outs to help your child regain control.  Both words and actions can inflict deep lasting wounds.  Use your actions to show children and other adults that conflicts can be settled without hitting or  yelling.  

Support prevention programs.  Become involved in programs that are developed to stop the abuse before  it occurs such as, family counseling and home visits by nurses who provide assistance for newborns and  their parents. 

Know what child abuse is and what the signs are.  Familiarize yourself with signs of possible abuse or neglect. 

Report Abuse.  If you witness a child being harmed or see evidence of abuse, or if a child tells you about abuse, make a child abuse report. 

Invest in Kids.  Encourage community leaders to be supportive of children and families.  Promote family-friendly work environments.   

Write, visit, fax, or email your elected officials.  Notify your U.S. Representatives and Senators about activities to memorialize children lost to violence.

Participate in ceremonies that memorialize children.  Read the names of children lost to violence within your state.  

Raise public awareness.  Distribute information about Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Help get the word out that April is National  Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Support the Blue Ribbon Initiative.  Wear and display your Blue Ribbon and encourage your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to do the same.