Protecting Your Child from Sexual Predators

Parenting Class 101 - An Ounce of Prevention...
Ever heard the saying, "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure?" When it comes to protecting your child from sexual predators, this saying rings true to the highest degree! In this session we're going to show you how to protect your child from these horrible people by working on prevention.

One of the things military personnel participate in on a consistent basis is, "Drills!" These drills are the primary part of military that makes it ready. As a parent, there are some drills you need to take your child through to prepare them in the event, (God forbid) that someone attempts to abuse them.

Parenting Class 101 - Inside The Mind of a Sexual Predator
Prior to going through the preventive measures, I feel it is important for every parent to understand the mind of a sexual predator; they don't think like you and I. What is a sexual predator? A person, (male or female) who sets about to have sexual contact with a minor or with someone against their will.

They seek out victims as if on a hunt, hence the term, "Predator" What the predators are hoping for is that you as a parent have abdicated your parental duties and in essence given them carte blanche access to your child.

Parenting Class 101 - Having That First Uncomfortable Discussion
Unfortunately, in the world that we live in it is imperative that you start taking preventive measures with your child as soon as he or she can understand speech. REMEMBER: this conversation is not designed to scare your child, but to make them aware of these dangers.

First and foremost, let them know that their private parts are just that, their private parts. Convey the message to them that no one should touch them in their private areas except a doctor or their parents when they are being bathed. They should know that in the event of any type of incident, that they should contact their parents immediately!

Parenting Class 101 - The Rules For Placing Your Child In a Day Care
If you opt to enroll your child in a day care, make sure that you've done your homework before making the commitment to placing and leaving your child. First, check to make sure that the daycare has the proper licensing.

Secondly, check to see if there are any complaints against the daycare. Next, make sure that ALL personnel have had criminal background checks ran and had been fingerprinted. Finally, request a referral list that contains the names and numbers of parents that have placed their children in that day care and call those parents to get their input.

Parenting Class 101 - The Rules For Placing Your Child In Church Nursery or Ministry
Nurseries and ministries within churches have been known stomping grounds for sexual predators. The primary reason is because most ministries don't require any type of verification of their identity. Neither do they require a criminal background check before a person can be placed in a position over minors.

Essentially, all a person has to do in most cases is join a church and show a desire to work with minors and they are given full access to out children. If a church is unwilling to run background checks and obtain fingerprints on the people working in those facets of the ministry, do not leave your children there.

Parenting Class 101 - The Rules For Using Internet Access
It goes without saying, that the Internet is a magnet for sexual predators. As a parent you must be proactive when it comes to allowing it your child to have Internet access. This next statement I'm going to make, may sound like you don't trust your child. Be clear on this, trusting your child is not the issue. Trusting the people on the other end of the Internet is the issue.

If you have children that are going to be surfing the Internet, you must install Internet monitoring software. I could write a book about the horror stories of children who were seduced, tricked and trapped by sexual predators via the Internet. I realize the privacy concerns, but safety trumps privacy, EVERYTIME!

These programs allow you to monitor the sites, chat rooms and social networking sites your children uses. If you don't want to do this, don't worry sexual predators will! Talk to your child about setting up blind dates and hook ups with chat buddies. The bottom line is this, the answer is NO! If the person wants to hook up with them, have them meet at your residence while you are there so that you can have the opportunity to confirm and verify there identity. Things are just to shaky online to do it any other way.

You also need to know the online lingo! The cryptic language used online and in text messages can be mind boggling to some parents, BUT you HAD BETTER learn it! A quick look at some of the more common acronyms proves why...

MOS = Mom Over Shoulder
RU420F = do you smoke marijuana? (420 is the cue for marijuana and "f" stands for friendly)
IWSNI = I Want Sex Now
MSNUW = Mini-Skirt No Under Wear
KPC = Keeping Parents Clueless
IWTKU = I Want To Kiss You
LHO = Lets Have Online Sex
LMBDTA = Let's Meet But Don't Tell Anyone
PAL = Parents Are Listening

If your child is online, they are seeing and learning this lingo!

Parenting Class 101 - The Rules For Using Public Restrooms
Concerning public restaurants, the rule of thumb is, "Parents accompany your child!" As a parent you must be vigilant at all times and public restrooms are not the place to let your guard down. By accompanying your child you are able to confirm that no one is lying in wait for them and that no one has followed them in to do them harm.

Parenting Class 101 - Drills Give Skills
The purpose of these drills is to teach your child how to respond in the event that they encounter a sexual predator. Sadly, there are probably thousands of children who would be safe and alive today had their parents taken them through these or similar type drills. In your drills you should cover...

*Never Go With a Stranger Drill
*Responding To a Ruse To Lure Drill
*Something Has Happened To Your Parents Drill

In these drills, you want to walk to child through what to do when he or she is approached by a stranger. They should be CRYSTAL CLEAR that you will never send a stranger to come and get them or send for them. Sexual predators have all types of ruses they use to lure victims. They use candy, dogs, kittens, emergencies and any other tactics they feel a minor would fall prey to. You should perform enough drills so that responding to strangers becomes second nature.

As you take these parenting class preventive measures, you'll reduce the vulnerability of your child to people who would want to do them harm.