Search Results for: blog our children in danger from child molesters

Do You Know Who Is Babysitting Your Children?

Do you know who is babysitting your children? Well if you live in Illinois, you just might want to do some digging. Recently the “Chicago Tribune” uncovered something pretty shocking and disturbing. Apparently Illinois subsidizes a childcare assistance program (totaling $750 million annually) that allows convicted rapists, child molesters and other violent criminals to babysit children who come from low income families. To me this speaks of two problems. One is the idea that children from low income families are not being given protection. The second is the absurdity of allowing these types of people to have access to any … Continue reading →

The Grooming Process of a Child Sexual Predator.

Grooming is a process of desensitization that predators use on children to prepare and trick them into accepting sexual abuse. Once the predator has gained the child’s trust and confidence, they use everyday behaviours, like telling an inappropriate joke, a touch on the upper arm that lingers a little too long or a kiss on the lips to test whether your child is likely to tell on them. If the perpetrator is satisfied that your child won’t tell, the predator moves onto other forms of bad touching. If the child still doesn’t tell, then the abuse continues along the continuum … Continue reading →

Teaching Teenagers About The Danger Of Internet Predators

It is summer and the average teenager is online 5.5 hours a day, with about 77 million on-line each day. Most are visiting one of the 40,000 chat rooms where according to a 2002 FBI report there is a 100% chance they will encounter a pedophile at some time. What is the danger with chat rooms? The Safe Surfin Foundation says that the danger is that “75% of children and teens report sharing personal information about them and their families to complete strangers in chat rooms.” Child predators use the tidbits of information that they glean from on-line chat rooms … Continue reading →

The epidemic of online child sexual crimes

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The issue of keeping children safe from online child predators has steadily increased over the past few years. From newspapers (e.g., New York Times) to news journal shows (e.g., Dateline NBC) to popular daytime shows (e.g., Oprah), the topic has been discussed. I am amazed, however, at the number of parents, teachers, and adults who still think that the epidemic of online predators is not really an important issue. Yes, that’s right. I call it an epidemic. Thousands of children each year worldwide are solicited and even abducted as a result of participating in unmonitored online activities. It’s time for … Continue reading →

Teaching Children About Child Molesters

With child abuse numbers so high it is important that parents educate their children. Teaching children to be wary of strangers is not enough, since about 90% of abuse cases happen with an adult that the child knows and respects. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children stresses that parents need to teach their children using “clear, calm, reasonable messages about situations and actions to look for.” What We Need To Teach Our Children Child Help USA, an organization that offers support to children who have been abused or neglected, provides a list of prevention tips for parents to … Continue reading →

Our Children in Danger From Child Molesters

How Common is Sexual Abuse? Studies in the United States show that up to one in every three or four girls and one in every four to ten boys has been sexually abused before age 18. These numbers are most likely low since many abuse occurrences go unreported. The FBI believes that only 1-10% of cases is ever disclosed. Child molesters who victimize girls average 50 victims before being caught and those of boys average 150 victims. The average pedophile molests 117 children before being caught and incarcerated. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 are most vulnerable. The … Continue reading →

Internet Sex Crimes: Florida Gets Tough

If you have children, this is one of those stories that just makes you applaud. Earlier this week, the Florida State Legislature unanimously approved a new bill. This bill sets a maximum 15-year prison term for anyone who contacts a child online and attempts to meet that child for sexual purposes (this also applies in sting operations where volunteers and law enforcement pose as children online). This bill passes easily in the Senate, which makes sense. After all, who could really be in favor of child molesters and predators? Leaders of the Florida Sheriffs Association, perhaps motivated by the bill, … Continue reading →