Protect your child

Pedophiles are still a persistent problem in our communities, says a national child-safety expert and founder of the Child Lures Prevention program that seeks to protect children from pedophiles, in a workshop to US Air Force servicemen in Japan.

The pedophiles use all kinds of tricks to lure their victims, but the most common and the most effective is by seducing children with love and affection.

The process can happen over a few weeks, or it may take months or years. They always target those who are starved for affection. And the motive is always the same among all the thousands of convicted sex offenders he has interviewed: instant sexual gratification — not power.

In his interviews, he discovered that child molesters commonly target a kid by going to playgrounds and looking for the loners in the crowd of kids. They realize that the loner in the playground probably has troubles back home. They then cultivate the child’s trust with affection and attention.

Another common lure is asking for assistance, which works because kids are helpful by nature. Luring kids with a pet is also a favorite tactic, and this one was used by the offender who raped and murdered Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl. This incident resulted in the federal “Megan’s Law”.

The expert advises parents to teach their children about lures when they reach age 5. Forbidding them to talk with strangers doesn’t cut it: the pedophile can be anybody. Parents should worry about the lures.

Some ways to protect children against sexual predators are:

* Use every opportunity to develop your child’s sense of self-worth.
* Instruct children about basic sexual privacy. Tell them that the body parts covered by a bathing suit are private, and they should allow no one to touch them in those areas.
* Develop good communications rapport with your children. They should be made to realize how important it is to report any kind of abuse they experience, to you or to an adult they can trust.
* Impress upon your children that nothing should be kept secret from you, especially about their interactions with an adult.
* Encourage children to express affection their own way. Never instruct them to kiss an uncle or hug an aunt; let them do this on their own.
* Make sure you know the names and addresses of your children’s friends.
* Give your children love and affection. Sex offenders target those who lack attention from parents. Commit yourself to spend time with your children.