Grooming has been a lurking danger for decades, but awareness has increased in recent years and as such, parents are concerned. Grooming is such a manipulative, dangerous process that standard “stranger danger” talks aren’t enough to protect children.
Take a look at the following tips to help you develop a strategy to keep your child safe from being preyed upon by groomers.
Have Open Discussions
Children need to be aware of the dangers that may face them as they navigate their environments, and as their parent, it’s important to have open discussions with them. Don’t go out of your way to scare them, but talk about the existence of groomers, the behaviors they display, and the risks that come with attempting to befriend them.
During your discussions, be sure to cover the following points.
- Groomers are NOT friends: Groomers will treat your child like the “relationship” they have is special so th3 child feels inclined to protect this person. Groomers are not friends, they’re criminals.
- Groomers lie: Groomers may tell your child they’re a completely different age, make up a history, and provide fake photos. They may even make threats to keep victims close.
- Groomers depend on secrets: Groomers will often tell a victim that other people “wouldn’t understand” their intentions or interactions, and in doing this, they discourage children from telling a responsible adult about questionable behavior.
Look for Red Flags
It can be difficult to determine whether something questionable is occurring between your child and an adult, but there are a few red flags to watch out for. Any one of them is a cause for concern.
- Secrecy: Your child may become secretive about who they’re talking to or what they’re doing during their free time.
- Unexplained Gifts: Your child may be deceptive about where/who new items came from.
- Receiving Questionable Attention: You may notice that an adult is paying an inappropriate amount of attention to your child.
Get Involved
To protect your child from being groomed, you need to get involved. While you don’t have to monitor every move your child makes, you can play an active role in your child’s safety by knowing who his or her friends are, reminding them about privacy and safety practices, and encouraging open communication.
Remember, grooming doesn’t have to occur online so it’s worthwhile to be aware of adult behavior toward your child in any setting. Listen to your instincts and if something doesn’t feel right, ask questions.
