Child Protection: Protect your child against church paedophiles
November 7, 2021
The only way to make sure your child is safe from any type of predator is to act on time and spread awareness about the problem. Here, we will go through some of the things that are in your power and that you can do to ensure your child remains safe in church.
Predator and Abuse Awareness
The first thing on the list is spreading awareness of the situation. No, it is not a pleasant conversation. But, it is a lot simpler than explaining why some old perv touched your kid. Remember — it is never the child’s fault for being molested.
It’s not a secret that the church has been a subject of sex scandal controversy for a long time. And the most common victims of all the predators involved are children. Now, the main problem is that the child is innocent and they don’t know whether they are being abused until it’s too late.
You will need to explain to your child what is inappropriate behavior and tell them how important it is to report any type of inappropriate act as soon as it takes place. What might seem like a friendly behavior and attitude for your kid might be a sign of something devious.
The sooner you have “the talk,” the better. And it might help your child avoid being hurt. Of course, the simplest way is to not let them near a church alone if you are suspecting something since it will completely eliminate the possibility that your child will run into a molester.
Be Proactive With Your Child’s Life
One thing you can do is be proactive with your child’s life. Do activities with them, play, talk, have fun. If you are with them at all times, these sneaky buggers will have a hard time getting near them. Remember that predators can notice a vulnerable child with ease, so if you leave your kid without supervision, horrible things can happen.
However, predators will almost never act if there is someone older nearby since they are cowards. Their entire scheme will not work if there is a grownup in close proximity. The reason for this is simple — anyone older will be able to see through their bullshit in no time.
Filter People That Your Child Engages
The next thing you should do is pay attention to the people your child engages with. Anyone that gets in contact with your kid should get your approval mark. It is as simple as that.
You can’t just assume that all people around you will have good intentions. This is a recipe for a disaster. Of course, the other extreme is wrong too. There is no need for you to be paranoid and assume that every person you see is a predator priest in disguise waiting for your child to be left alone.
You just need to be careful. And that entails filtering bad people in your kid’s life. One of the rarely told secrets is that you don’t need priests 24/7. There is no reason for you to let your kid get anywhere near them for no reason.
Teach Sex Education Rightfully
You need to focus on sex education. And you need to do it as soon as possible. People often forget how important sex-ed is. There are those who believe that it is something for teenagers only. But sex-ed is not only about STDs and safe sex. It is also about learning how to recognize church paedophiles and all types of sexual abuse.
If you decide to make this huge step, there are a few guidelines you should follow. Firstly, don’t sugarcoat it. No one is saying that this will be a pleasant conversation, but the topic is far from being pleasant. Say it as it is. It might seem scary, but your child needs to understand what is happening.
Furthermore, teach them about anatomy. And do it properly. Yes, talking about pee-pees and va-jay-jays is fun, but use proper names. Label genitals without euphemism. If there are uncertainties with terms, it might get a child confused enough to fail to recognize abuse.
Get to Know People From Your Community
Whether you just moved to a new place or have been living there for a while, it would be a good thing if you knew people from your community. This will allow you to prepare yourself and eliminate toxic people from your and your child’s lives.
Naturally, no one is expecting you to do the census by yourself and check out all the people living in the city. But you should know at least something about people your kid is interacting with.
Do a background check, ask around, do whatever will help you learn about strange people you noticed, and decide whether your child will be safe near them.
Let the Children Participate
Another excellent piece of advice is to let your child (or children) participate in your activities. Include them in stuff you’re doing. Whether it is shopping, walking, reading, playing, or anything else. This will allow you to create an image that they are being taken care of.
No one is saying that predator protection is simple, but these are just a few of the tips you can use to increase the chances of your children staying safe. Predators look for vulnerable kids, ones that parents neglect. They can swoop in, and act as if they are friendly faces. Someone that can help them. And we all know that this is not the case. So, showing to the world that you care for your child can be a powerful tool to fend off church predators and other maniacs.
Build a Safe and Honest Communication
Communication is the key. It is one of the most important parts of every relationship, and this includes the parent-child relationships as well. You need to let them know that they are safe, and through honest communication, you will be able to know what is happening in their lives even when you are not with them.
You can’t be by your kid the entire time. This is the sad truth. At one point, they will go to school, college, university, get married, have a life on their own. But what you can do is be a parent. Give them love and show them that they are safe by your side. And most importantly, show them that they can trust you no matter what.
So, focus on communication and be honest with your kids. It is a scary world we live in, and you need to ensure that they are safe from sick people that are in it as well. Of course, there are decent folks in church, but there is a reason people are looking for child protection guides. So, be careful, and try to keep your children safe.