How to Identify a Child Molester

Child molester statistics show that there are 400,000 registered molesters in our country. Sexual offenders are often people with whom we entrust our children in school and home. There are some basic behavioral signs and strategies practiced by child molesters. Being aware of these signs and trusting your instincts can help protect your child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Talk to your child to identify all the adults who play a role in the child's life. Child molesters often target children who are emotionally vulnerable. They offer to be understanding and empathetic towards the child's problems at home and school.
2. Watch people with whom your child spends time. A molester grooms the child to gain his trust by offering to play games, buying gifts and acting respectful and caring to create a friendship.
3. Ask your child if any adults have tried to establish secrecy; for example, an adult who may give candy to the child and ask him not to tell his parents. Child molesters often do this to encourage dependency
4. Stay attentive to adults who offer to take care of the child. These adults include babysitters, teachers, coaches or even relatives.
5. Supervise the physical boundaries between the child and the adult. A child predator removes barriers with a child by introducing physical contact that is nonsexual in nature initially. This could be an arm over the child's shoulder or tucking the child's hair behind her ear frequently.

Tips & Warnings

• Call the Stop It Now helpline to report any sexual abuse of children at [phone] - that is, (888) PREVENT. (See Resources below.)