Keeping Our Children Safe from Predators: A Guide for Parents

1. Unusual Interest in Child Activities: Be cautious of adults who show an excessive interest in children’s activities or try to spend time alone with them.
2. Grooming Behaviours: Watch for adults who give gifts, offer special attention, or try to build a secretive relationship with your child.
3. Inappropriate Conversations: Teach children to recognize and report any adult who talks about sexual topics or asks for personal information.
4. Physical Boundaries: Make sure children understand that it’s okay to say “no” to unwanted physical contact, even from someone they know.

Advice for Parents

1. Open Communication: Create a safe and open environment where your child feels comfortable talking about anything. Use age-appropriate language to discuss personal safety and boundaries. Teach them the difference between good touch and bad touch.
2. Role Playing: Practice scenarios with your child where they might need to say “no” or seek help. This can build their confidence in handling uncomfortable situations. Many cultures put so much emphasis on respecting elders, the children are fearful to report sexual assault to their parents and often miss the child’s fear as disobedience. We have to actually be comfortable with our kids saying NO to us for them to feel safe saying NO to others. If they fear saying no to us, they may fear saying no to sexual predators.
3. Teach Assertiveness: Encourage your child to be assertive and to trust their instincts. Let them know it’s okay to speak up if something feels wrong.
4. Monitor Online Activity: Keep an eye on your child’s online interactions. Use parental controls and discuss the importance of not sharing personal information online.

Facilitating Conversations

1. Start Early: Begin conversations about safety and boundaries at a young age. Use everyday moments to reinforce these lessons.
2. Ask Open Ended Questions: Encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings. Questions like

• “How do you feel about your new friend?”
• “What do you like most about spending time with [adult’s name]?”
• “Can you tell me about a time when [adult’s name] made you feel happy or special?”
• “How do you feel when [adult’s name] is around?”
• “What kinds of things do you and [adult’s name] do together?”
• “Has [adult’s name] ever done something that made you feel uncomfortable or confused?”
• “What do you think about the way [adult’s name] talks to you?”
• “Can you describe a typical day when you spend time with [adult’s name]?”
• “How does [adult’s name] make you feel when you are with them?”
• “What are some things [adult’s name] has taught you or shown you?”
• “Is there anything you wish [adult’s name] would do differently?”

These questions can open up dialogue and encourage children to express their feelings and experiences in detail, helping you understand their interactions with adults better. Listen to their body language, not just their words.

3. Active Listening: Show that you are listening by repeating back what your child says and validating their feelings. This builds trust and makes them more likely to come to you with concerns.