Children must be taught to use resources that increase their power against abusive adults. Such resources include the use of other children as allies in dangerous situations, a trust in one's own instincts and feelings, the courage to challenge adult authority perceived as abusive, and the awareness that it is okay to engage in physical resistance to and attacks upon threatening adults. Programs that teach self-defense techniques for children should emphasize assertiveness skills, values clarification, and the early recognition of subtle coercion that often precedes abuse. Child sexual abuse prevention programs must be tailored to minority children whose cultures and races place them in distinctively vulnerable situations and certain relational patterns with adults. Sexual abuse prevention education should be set in the broad context of sexual and family life education; otherwise, the children's perceptions of and responses to sexual abuse may adversely impact their sexual development. Parent education should be part of a program to teach children abuse prevention techniques. The article concludes with suggestions for enhancing future abuse prevention programs. 4 notes and 5 references.