Like every good parent, you want to learn the best ways to protect your children from sexual predators. The statistics are chilling. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), child protective services find evidence of child sexual abuse every nine minutes.
There are steps you can take to educate yourself and your child about sexual predators. Sexual predators move and operate in a certain manner, and the sooner you know how to identify these mannerisms, the safer your children will be.
Here is a guide to help you protect your children.
1. Speak with Your Children
Take the time to talk to your kids about their day, every day. At the end of the night, or maybe over dinner, ask if their day went well, what happened and who they spend time with. You have to be the one to identify things that are not right and let them know.
Once talking about their day becomes a routine, you’ll get insight into what is happening, which can help you stop abuse before it starts.
2. Teach Kids That a Bad Touch Can Come from Anyone
Unfortunately, many children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust. You need to teach your children which touches are inappropriate. Let them know that no one should touch them in these ways.
Make children know that this goes for even family members and close friends. Your children should be aware that nobody should ever violate their bodies and make them uncomfortable.
3. Know Who Your Child Is with At All Times
You need to know where your children are at all times. Don’t send your children to sleepovers at friends’ homes unless you know the parents very well and your child is excited to go.
However, you should bear in mind that predators also have ways to befriend parents, so be careful who you let into your life.
4. More Than One Chaperone for Youth Groups
A sexual predator can be in youth groups. Abused children may also abuse children because, sadly, the behavior, to them, has become normal. They might grow up to continue this pattern of behavior.
There should be more than one chaperone for youth meetings to prevent opportunities for abuse. You also need to know who chaperones for youth groups are to protect your children.
Ask intrusive questions about chaperones, do not be afraid. You must be vigilant because the impact of sexual abuse lasts a lifetime.
5. Teach Children Not to Keep Secrets
One of the favorite tactics of a predator is to ask children to keep secrets. They often develop a relationship with children that involves one secret after another.
They depend on the silence of their victims, and this is why many abuse victims are reluctant to come forward. Predators start with small secrets that seem like a game to test the child.
Then they gauge when the time is right for them to molest a child and ask them to keep it a secret. Let your child know that no one should ask them to keep secrets from their parents.
Final Thoughts on How to Protect your Children from Sexual Predators
Your child doesn’t have to become a victim once you educate yourself and inform them as well. The best way to stop sexual abuse and protect your children is to educate them.
You also need to watch out for changes in the behavior of your children. When you stay alert, you can see the plots of predators before they strike and cause damage to your children.
Contact the authorities immediately if you believe that your child has been abused. If you would like to learn more about this sensitive topic, take a look at our personal injury attorney blog to find relevant posts.