Learn What the Dangers Are

Although children being abducted for sexual reasons does happen, it is quite rare. However the Tips on this page are relevant to all situations where strangers and children are concerned.

Whilst there are a few child molesters who work this way, the majority do not regardless of what the propaganda would have you believe. Most molestation is carried out by someone you or your child know.

In fact this constitutes more than 90%, meaning very few who would molest a child are not known by the child and perhaps you, however some friendships are cultivated for the purpose of molesting the child.

If you have young children aged 5 to 7, help them set boundaries to safeguard them from unwanted touching, teaching them from an early age that their body belongs to them. This is not as easy as it sounds as children are very trusting, which also means as they are growing up they need constant reminders. These reminders need to be given without causing panic, anxiety or paranoia.

Whilst most molesters do not use the following means, there are a few who may use some of the following tactics. It is a safety precaution to know about these tips for all areas where your children are concerned.

Stranger Danger Is An Issue

There are many ruses, in fact what ever their ingenuity can come up with, and using whatever is at their disposal. The age of the child can also come into the equation. Warn your child against strangers approaching them.

Whilst it would be nice to live in a world where we can trust others, it is becoming exceedingly difficult. Even in rural areas where people were once friendly, looking out for each other, it is no longer the case.

Below are some of the ways children are being lured by strangers. Do not be so sure that your child will never be at risk, unless you are watching them constantly 24 hours a day.

Live Tests

There have been instances where children have been taught how to react and they still fall for a perpetrators tricks. There have been live tests done, where strangers (disguised police officers) have approached children from different households to see how they would react to a stranger wanting to be allowed into their house.

Parents were observing on screen, and were shocked in most cases with the results. Their children were unlocking the doors, and allowing a stranger into their homes.

Children are generally friendly, very trusting and want to please adults. It goes against their nature to ignore or run away from an adult who is being friendly.

Of course most people are not going to take advantage of children and it is a shame that those few make it so that the child must be wary of all.

A stranger may ask a child to help them look for a lost pet, for directions, use of a phone, to help them carry bags, any excuse for conversation will do them.

Pretending to know or be a friend of the family. Offering them a ride home, or telling the child their mum or dad has asked them to pick them and take them home or to some other place.

Another strategy used is to pretend to have a mutual friend. Using conversation to separate the child from others she/he may have been talking to or are near is another method.

They may try to lure a child away with the offer of being given something, anything that will appeal to a child. They may be asked if they want to see something or play with something, eg a puppy.

They may pretend to be a friend of the family, to gain entry into the home. Using the ploy of an emergency (eg saying they were involved in accident down the road), needing to use the phone, they could use the ruse of delivering a package, anything to get a child to open the door.

Some children have come outside their home under the belief they are helping to find a lost dog, or a missing child.

They may say there's been an emergency or accident of some kind at your home or with your family, and they have been sent to pick your child up. Or they may say there's been a change of plan and the person supposed to pick them up (it could even be you) has sent them instead.

A person may use a fake badge telling the child they have to take them away. They might tell them, their parents don't want them anymore for different reasons. They've been bad or for some reason they can't look after them anymore, etc and they have to go with the stranger.

There are those who will lure a child online, starting out friendly and may even eventuate to a sexual nature online. Their aim to get the child to meet with them in person. Unfortunately there are those children who will take the bait.

Children need protecting, and until they become of an adult age they are your responsibility. Children are lured for many reasons far too extensive to discuss here. Custody battles being one of them. There are children that have gone missing never to return, and this includes those who run away or those who have met foul play. Children that have been abucted usually hit the headlines with extensive searches taking place.

Make Your Child Aware

Teach your children the dangers, constantly reminding them. Remember they are trusting and friendly, and want to please. Give them little tests asking them what they would do in certain situations. Use the above information as a guide for some of the tests you set for them.