How to Keep Your Child Safe From Predators

Having a plan to keep your child safe from predators is one of the best things you can do for your own peace of mind, and handled appropriately can help your child learn skills that will serve them well as they grow up and experience more and more independence.

While it is impossible to keep your child safe from every unknown danger, there are things that can be done do to increase safety and minimize risk. The first and most important thing is to always be aware of is your child. You should always know where they are and who they are with. No exceptions.

Ask Questions

As your children grow up their world gets larger and is inhabited by more people, hopefully all of them caring adults. However, hope isn't enough and for your child's sake you need to know:

• full names and backgrounds of all caregivers
• if your child attends school or a day care facility don't be shy about asking what kinds of background checks are done on employees and what the results are
• if you use a private babysitter, set clear rules about who your child is allowed to be alone with and be aware of any teenagers that will be around your child regularly - not all predators are full grown adults

• know the parents of your children's friends, make sure you meet them and learn their names (slightly different topic, but before the first play date find out if the friend's family has guns in the house and how they are secured)

If your child is going on an outing with a friend and their family, make sure you have at least one contact phone number and a plan for what time the outing will be over, and make sure there is enough supervision planned for all the children who are attending the outing.

Research

You can ask your local law enforcement about registered sex offenders in the area, or you can find this information on the Internet from several different sources. Consider the age of your children before you share this information with them. Frightening your children into staying home behind locked doors is not the goal.

You can talk to a local attorney before you hire someone to care for your children; many can assist you with conducting a criminal background check. Letting your potential employee know that you wish to conduct such a test will help weed out undesirable candidates as well.

Observe

Pay attention to your child's behavior after they have been with someone other than yourself. Take note if they become fearful of seeing that person, going back to a particular place or have unusual temper tantrums, crying fits, or nightmares. 

You are ultimately your child's safe harbor. Spending as much time with them as possible is critical not only to their safety, but their development. For those times when you cannot be with them, learn to be assertive about making sure the adults they are with can be trusted. You may be uncomfortable asking questions, but your child's safety is at stake.

Get Legal Help

In addition to turning to an attorney for assistance with background checks, call an attorney immediately if you suspect your child has been subjected to any predatory behavior. They can advise you about how to handle the situation, and help you remain calm so you can care for your child.