Sharing – Spotting a Child Predator: The Brightest Red Flags
The article below offers good advice on red flags. I think it does a good job of describing the struggle with identifying grooming behavior versus taking an interest in a child as a coach, teacher, neighbor, etc., which is normal. Yes, we should be on the lookout for any inappropriate actions like sexualizing the child, exposing them to pornography, or trying to separate them from the other adults in their lives.
Those are all good to know, but there was one thing the authors pointed out that can be done today to prevent abuse. It doesn’t involve watching adults for behaviors. It involves making kids less vulnerable to grooming:
From a victim selection perspective, Jeglic et al. noted that one identified risk factor was the psychological vulnerability of the child, including feelings of low self-esteem, feeling isolated or lonely, experiencing psychological or behavioral problems, and feeling unloved, unwanted, or needy.
That’s the winner right there. Kids who are not isolated or lonely and who know they are loved and supported are the ones who tell you about grooming behavior from the very start. They have adults they trust and are connected to people who are more likely to notice grooming and believe the child who reports inappropriate behavior.
That’s the best tool we have to prevent child sexual abuse.
