I see the blogs and the sites about pedophiles. I read their missions and reasons for existing. Many of them tell stories of pedophiles and try to teach parents about protecting their children. In their parent section they tell parents about teaching their children about pedophiles and how to keep them safe from sexual abuse. Most of them tell about talking with the children about strangers. It tells the parents what to look for in strangers.
I nod as I read for I did everything they say to do. I even read the book Never Talk to Strangers with my children and used it as a springboard for talking and reviewing safety. What I do not see on these sites is a section on how to prepare your children to be safe around people they know and especially with people they love and know well. We need more education on keeping safe in every area whether it be sexual abuse or physical abuse. Children need to know that no adult has the right to abuse them in any manner or form. This is all hindsight for me, but I hope this can be the foresight for someone else.
Please if you have a child, discuss all safety with them. If you have a site dealing with pedophiles or abuse prevention, please address teaching children that even someone they know or love may try to harm them and they need to let someone know if this happens. I know we don’t want to think about it, but it is real, so let’s keep our children safe. Let’s bridge the gap in pedophile/abuse education now before another child becomes a victim of someone they know and love.
