JANUARY 9, 2012: TIPS…….
By MICHELE M. BETTI | b&a opinions | https://bettiandassociates.com
As a child growing up, I could play outside, join organizations, walk to school, play sports and enjoy. Have fun! My mother’s generation experienced the same atmosphere with a little more purity.
However, the climate for today’s children is somewhat sketchy. A child joins a sports team, girl/boy scouts, big brother/little brother, altar boy, go to camp, etc. and today parents worry that sometimes things are not as they seem.
I have compiled some “sexual abuser warning flags” to help parents and loved ones decipher if things may not be as they seem and help to keep your children, loved ones, neighbor kids safe from sexual abusers .
- Coach, priest, mentor, scout leader takes an unusual interest in my child.
- There is a lot of one on one time between my child and the adult supervising the group.
- The adult takes an unusual interest in my family, in the sense that he/she tries to become part of the family.
- The adult gives gifts to my child. This includes treating my child for ice cream, taking my child out for pizza, going to the movies.
- My child is the adult’s “little helper.”
- The adult innocently is always hugging, touching, kissing, caressing, etc. the child.
- The adult has a pattern of wanting to be photographed with the child.
- The adult is pulling my child out of class .
- The adult, for whatever reason, suggests taking my child to an amusement park, on a road trip or overnight trip. The adult also wants to come on our family vacations.
- The adults attention to your child makes you the parent uncomfortable and seems “off” listen to your intuition aka “gut”.
- My child’s demeanor changes when the adult is around.
- My child’s behavior changes – weight gain or loss or my child becomes introverted or disassociates from the family, acting out or exhibiting anger, aggression, depression or crying.
Copyright 2012, b&a opinions.
