10 Tips to Keep Children Safe from Sexual Predators

10 Tips to Keep Children Safe from Sexual Predators

Keeping your children safe from child predators sounds like a scary proposition, but it doesn’t have to be. Just as we teach children about the dangers associated with crossing the street or going near a hot oven, we must talk to them about recognizing and avoiding threatening encounters with child predators.

1. No secrets.
Period. Encourage your children to tell you about things that happen to them that make them feel scared, sad or uncomfortable. If children have an open line of communication, they will be more inclined to alert you to something suspicious before it becomes a problem.

2. Don’t dress children in clothing or accessories with their name on it.
Customized clothing breeds familiarity, which can create a false sense of trust. If a stranger comes up to your child and saysJenny, your Mom told me to bring you home so you can have dinner, your child may be more inclined to go along because this person knows their name.

3. Teach your child the correct terms for their body parts.
This will make them more at ease if they need to tell you about a touch that made them feel uncomfortable.

4. Practicewhat if scenarios.
Say to your child, “What would you do if someone offered you a treat, or a gift when I wasn’t there?” Help your child arrive at the right answer, which is to say no, and ask you first. Many parents also encourage children to walk or run away in this situation.

5. Teach your child their name, address and phone number at an early age.
Start teaching children at an early age their name, address and phone number. When young children are separated from their parents, even for a short time, they are potential targets for child predators. If a child has their parent’s cell phone number, the child can be reunited with the parent more expeditiously.

6. Prepare a child with what to do if they get lost.
Teach your child to find a safe person if they become lost. A safe person is a police officer, someone in the store with a store uniform or wearing a name tag, or a mother with children. Children should also learn to stay in the general area where they last saw you so you can find them when you retrace your steps.

7. Internet Safety
Install a safety browser on your computer so that you can make the decisions about which websites are appropriate for your children to view. Teach your child never to give out their last name, address, or phone number to a person on the Internet and never to meet Internet friends in person without a parent’s supervision and consent. Always keep your computer in a public area of your house not in a child’s bedroom.

8. Let children decide for themselves how they want to express affection.
Children should not be forced to hug or kiss if they are uncomfortable. Even if they are your favorite aunt, uncle or cousin, your child should not be forced to be demonstrative in their affection. While this may displease you, by doing this, you will empower your child to say no to inappropriate touching.

9. Teach children the buddy system.
Children should learn it is safer to be with a friend or trusted adult than to be alone.

10. Teach your child that adults do not need to ask children for help.
Predators use tricks to lure children, for example, asking them to help find a lost pet, give directions, or help carry something. When you are sitting down talking to your child, use these examples as part of yourwhat if scenarios to reinforce the lessons about safety.

Bio: Jill Starishevsky is a mother of two and a prosecutor of child abuse and sex crimes in New York City. Jill is also the author ofMy Body Belongs to Me, a children’s book intended to prevent child sexual abuse by teaching children that their bodies are their own. For more information go to http://www.MyBodyBelongstoMe.com .