Do You Know How to Keep Your Children Safe From Predators?

Many want to know if there is more abuse of children today than years ago or are we just more aware of the problem. Child abuse has been around since the beginning of time. People are more aware of the problem and more willing to talk about it than ever before. Additionally, more active prosecution and media attention makes it seem like there has been an explosion of child abuse. While, it is very widespread, our awareness is more heightened than ever before. Now that we are more aware of the problem as a society, we need to take steps to protect children from further abuse.

1. TEACHING CHILDREN SKILLS. Reporting the inappropriate actions of an adult is not as easy for a child as it might seem. We raise children to do what adults tell them to do. We also tell them to do it without questioning why. Sometimes what we tell them to do is painful, such as getting a medical procedure. We still expect them to obey. How is a child to distinguish between a painful medical procedure with which a trusted adult tells them to comply and painful sexual abuse with which a trusted adult tells them to comply. Young children cannot do it at all. As children mature, we teach them "good touch, bad touch." This is helpful for some, butnot all. Which adult to obey is still very confusing for many children. It is up to the aduls in a child's life to teach and monitor where a child is, what he is doing, and who he is with.

2. TEACH CHILDREN THAT THE DANGER MAY COME FROM A FAMILY MEMBER, NEIGHBOR, HANDYMAN, GROCERY CLERK, SCOUT LEADER, OR STANGER. We are very good at teaching children about not going with strangers. We need to teach them that sometimes danger can come from a relative, scout leader, teacher, or choir leader. This is very confusing for children. You can tell a child, "when you are not sure about whether something a grown up is doing is OK, ask another grown up to help you. It is always OK to ask."

3. PROVIDE THERAPY FOR THE VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND PREDATORS. Child abuse is out of the relm of normal experience. It can be confusing and damaging to children and their parents. The child (or parent) may become depressed, anxious, or hyperactive. She may sleep or eat too little or too much. Her grades may drop and her behavior deteriorate. These may be signs that the abuse was traumatic and caused injury that needs therapy. Have your child evaluated by a professional to determine the need for therapy.

4. WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? If parents discover that their child(ren) has been abused, they need to do two things. They need to contact the police or department of social services in the county where they live. They will investigate the alleged abuse. Children need a lot of support when they have been abused. They need to know that what has happened is not their fault and that they will heal from it in time.

5. FOR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE, SEX OFFENDERS MUST LEARN HOW TO NOT REPEAT THEIR OFFENSES. Most sex offenders are released at some point, back into the community. Some never go to jail. There are treatments that make them less dangerous when they are in the community. There should be mandatory risk assessment and treatment for every convicted sex offender while in jail and in the community. The goal is "No More Victims." If there is no sex offender treatment in your town, speak up and make it happen. It is the best way to protect your child. I would rather have a sex offender in treatment and being monitored than not being treated and monitored. We can reduce his risk of re-offending that way.

6. IDENTIFYING CHILD ABUSE TO IMPROVE PREVENTION. Understanding the roots and characteristics of child abuse and child battery points us in the direction of effective prevention and treatment. A portion of adult child abusers and violent predators were abused, neglected, or exposed to domestic violence as children. Therefore, prevention of future sexual will involve efforts to stop childhood abuse, neglect, and domestic violence and treat the victims of these events. Insist, through your legislative process, that sufficient resources are put into protecting the children of your community from abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence.

7. SUPPORT RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM. We know a lot about the personalities of sexual and violent offenders through research. We know how to prevent some children from becoming perpetrators. We know how to assess risk of future violence or sexual offending to prevent premature releases. To not use what we know through research would be foolish and ill advised. You can support research into these important areas and the application of what is already known by writing to your legislators. Accepting anything less than the best, poses a danger to your child and everyone else's.

8. ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. There are abandoned, abused and neglected children in many nations around the world. They are often recruited into criminal gangs, child sex rings and terrorist organizations, where they are housed, fed and abused. They are brainwashed to do whatever they are told to do, no matter how heinous it is by our standards. There are international organzations that try to help these children. I have been to these countries. We have so much more than they will ever have. We can do our part to support these organizations that help them.

9. SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON CHILD ABUSERS. This is the information age. There is a wealth of information on the internet about predators, their characteristics and what they are like. Read everything you can. Ladies, trust your "gut." If something doesn't feel right, don't jump to conclusions, but check it out. Investigate people who only spend their time with children. Keep open communication with your child, so he feels free to discuss anything that "seems funny or doesn't feel right."

10. MONITOR YOUR CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES. Take your turn supervising a school or church activity for children. get to know the other parents, teachers, and coaches. There should always be 2 adults with every child activity. If another adult acts suspiciously, check it out. have open discussions with other parents about any concerns. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

These 10 tips are just a beginning. You can find more information on the internet. In fact, internet safety is a whole new area that you need to be informed about. Collect your information, be aware, be involved, but mostly, talk to your child every day and build a positive relationship with him. Hopefully, whether something seems odd or great, he will tell you.

Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com

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