Today's Dangerous World For Children

By: Joyce Jackson

Today's world is a dangerous place. Today's dangerous world is very different than anything seen before. It's dangerous for adults. It is very dangerous for our precious children. This sad truth is a reality however, one that you must accept and deal with in order to keep your child safe from sexual predators.

Many parents today just don't know how to keep their kids safe in a modern world. There is nothing wrong with that. They grew up themselves with their parents warning of "Don't talk to strangers!" when they were a child heading out the door to play. It was truly useless information to the child back then as it is today, but somehow made the parents feel their children were safe.

Many parents, although they are adults now, still think like this, today, however, this kind of thinking can not only keep your child unsafe, it may put them at risk as a target for sexual predators. This kind of thinking can really endanger your child.

"This guy has to be a bad stranger," or "Stay away from weirdoes!" seems like it has to help. The sad news, however, is it is useless. The fact is, many parents today have no idea how to keep themselves safe let alone teach their children safety from sexual predators.

Telling your child not to talk to strangers or telling your child any neighbor can be trusted is a recipe for danger. If you go around like this you are playing with odds that you child will not be the one ever approached by a sexual predator. That is roulette with your child's life. So, we'll help you change your ideas about child safety. We'll help you teach your child to be safer in today's world with a little education and knowledge.

Let's continue with understanding the problem of sexual predators today. Let's understand just how big the problem really is. The FBI states on their February 2007 website statistics:

-1 of 5 girls will be sexually molested before her 18th birthday.
-1 of 6 boys will be sexually molested before his 18th birthday.
-1 of 5 children has been propositioned for sex over the Internet.
-2 of 3 sexual abuses are perpetrated against teenagers or younger children.
-90% of sexual assaults are committed against someone the perpetrator knows.
-The median age for male molestation victims under 18 is 9.8 years old.
-The median age for female molestation victims under 18 is 9.6 years old.
-There are 400,000 new victims of sexual assault every year.
-There are over 550,000 registered sex offenders in the US.
-There are over 100,000 sex offenders that fail to register in the US.
-76% of serial rapists claim they were molested as children.
-Over 40% of male juvenile delinquents were molested as children.

These statistics are unacceptable. Some studies show in the last three years an increase in sexual abuse statistics, as well.

The problem with statistics is that is neutralizes the affects of abuse on the people that are touched by it. Statistics make the victims depersonalized and faceless. The victims, the children, are the ones that really suffer and abuse will affect them for a lifetime. Abuse affects all that it touches, too, including family and friends. Some victims struggle their entire life to overcome the horror of abuse.

Statistics are fine to make our point. But the real point is the poignant stories of the victims. Even in our field, we are constantly struck by the number of individuals who come up to us and tell us their stories of their lives and the negative effects foisted upon them by sexual predators.

Information about the Author:

Joyce Jackson is a child safety expert, #1 bestselling author, consultant and speaker. For her extensive website and information see www.KeepingKidsSafeToday.com.