Adults Can Help Prevent Child Abuse
Casey Knaupp
These days, people often keep track of sex offenders living in or near their neighborhoods.
They're easy to find on the Internet.
What some may not realize is that most sex offenders living in their communities haven't been identified.
The majority of children are victimized by someone they know and trust - a relative, teacher, baby sitter or other adult in a position of authority.
Children sexually abused by people they know are more inclined not to report the assault because the perpetrator tells them not to, that it's normal behavior, or makes them feel as if the sexual offenses are the child's fault.
Last year, more than 26,000 children were sexually assaulted in Texas, according to Prevent Child Abuse Texas.
The nonprofit organization, designed to prevent every form of child abuse, is educating parents on how they can help keep their children from becoming victims of sexual predators.
Parents should know there is no single psychological profile of a sexual offender, Wendell Teltow, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Texas, said in a prepared statement.
Myths suggest that only "dirty old men" are sexual abusers, but the reality is that anyone in a position of authority and with access to children can abuse a child, he said.
Teltow said parents should be particularly cautious about people who are close to their child who do any of the following:
Treats children as property by grabbing them, forcing attention and affection, tickling excessively and generally showing disrespect for children's requests and privacy;
Relates to children in a sexual or seductive manner, for example, by commenting, "She's a sexy little thing;"
Uses gifts and favors as the main way of relating to children;
Entices children into their homes or into activities with them or shows excessive friendliness.
NO SIGNS
Many sex offenders don't show any signs indicating they're dangerous to our youth.
"We need to take steps to ensure the safety of children in all aspects of their lives, realizing that the unidentified threat is greater than the small percentage of people who have been identified as sex offenders," Teltow said.
Adults should teach their children personal safety skills and take primary responsibility for keeping their children safe.
The best strategy for prevention is to supervise them and their relationships with others.
Although parents can't control everything that happens to their child, they can be alert to potentially dangerous situations.
Here are some things parents can do to help prevent their children from being a victim of sexual abuse:
Teach children about sexual abuse prevention just as you teach other safety guidelines. Bring the subject of sexual abuse into daily life and make it part of ongoing talks with your children, rather than presenting it as a one-time-only lecture, which will scare them rather than educate and empower them;
Encourage children to talk. They should feel they can discuss anything and must be free to ask about adult behavior that confuses them;
Pay attention when children act differently around certain people and discuss it with them;
Teach children the "First Rule of Safety" - before they can go anywhere they need to say where they are going, who they will be with and when they will be back;
Supervise children's use of the Internet, which can be used by sex offenders to form relationships with minors;
Make it clear they can reach you or someone they trust at all times and identify a safety network of people they can talk to about feelings, especially if they feel unsafe;
Teach your children there are things they can do if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. It may be helpful to play a "what if" game with children to practice ways to deal with a situation;
Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, pay attention to your feelings and check into any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Parents and other family members should always report suspected sexual abuse to local law enforcement, even if they have concerns about whether their children are telling the truth.
Let the professionals investigate the allegations to discern when a crime has been committed. Otherwise, you may be helping a child molester and telling your children what happened to them is OK.
I've seen many cases where the children's parents didn't tell authorities because the perpetrator was a family member or a friend and they refused to believe they had victimized their child.
What does that tell the innocent child who was brave enough to come forward and make an outcry?
Let the authorities find the truth, and though it may be hard in some cases, bring those who have sexually abused a child to justice and stop it from happening again.
They're easy to find on the Internet.
What some may not realize is that most sex offenders living in their communities haven't been identified.
The majority of children are victimized by someone they know and trust - a relative, teacher, baby sitter or other adult in a position of authority.
Children sexually abused by people they know are more inclined not to report the assault because the perpetrator tells them not to, that it's normal behavior, or makes them feel as if the sexual offenses are the child's fault.
Last year, more than 26,000 children were sexually assaulted in Texas, according to Prevent Child Abuse Texas.
The nonprofit organization, designed to prevent every form of child abuse, is educating parents on how they can help keep their children from becoming victims of sexual predators.
Parents should know there is no single psychological profile of a sexual offender, Wendell Teltow, Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse Texas, said in a prepared statement.
Myths suggest that only "dirty old men" are sexual abusers, but the reality is that anyone in a position of authority and with access to children can abuse a child, he said.
Teltow said parents should be particularly cautious about people who are close to their child who do any of the following:
NO SIGNS
Many sex offenders don't show any signs indicating they're dangerous to our youth.
"We need to take steps to ensure the safety of children in all aspects of their lives, realizing that the unidentified threat is greater than the small percentage of people who have been identified as sex offenders," Teltow said.
Adults should teach their children personal safety skills and take primary responsibility for keeping their children safe.
The best strategy for prevention is to supervise them and their relationships with others.
Although parents can't control everything that happens to their child, they can be alert to potentially dangerous situations.
Here are some things parents can do to help prevent their children from being a victim of sexual abuse:
Parents and other family members should always report suspected sexual abuse to local law enforcement, even if they have concerns about whether their children are telling the truth.
Let the professionals investigate the allegations to discern when a crime has been committed. Otherwise, you may be helping a child molester and telling your children what happened to them is OK.
I've seen many cases where the children's parents didn't tell authorities because the perpetrator was a family member or a friend and they refused to believe they had victimized their child.
What does that tell the innocent child who was brave enough to come forward and make an outcry?
Let the authorities find the truth, and though it may be hard in some cases, bring those who have sexually abused a child to justice and stop it from happening again.
Casey Knaupp covers county, state and federal courts. She can be reached at 903.596.6289. e-mail: news@tylerpaper.com
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