Keep your children safe from exploitation on- and offline

Topics: National, Violence, Bullying and Abuse Prevention
September 17, 2012

Keep your children safe from exploitation on- and offline

Did you know that approximately one in five children are sexually solicited online?[1] From graphic conversations featuring explicit content to unwanted requests for sexual activities, children can be exposed to unforeseen risks and frightening situations while online.

The Canadian Red Cross is dedicated to protecting children from exploitation on the internet and strengthening communities and families through Respect Education : Violence and Abuse Prevention education.

Establish guidelines

If you're worried that your son or daughter may be at risk when using the internet, one of the best things that you can do as a parent is be proactive and reach out to your kids. By building caring and supportive dialogue while establishing guidelines about when and how the computer can be used, you may keep your child safe from some of the most dangerous scenarios involving sexual exploitation.

It's important that children understand that they should never give out personal information, including their full name, address, phone number, email address or favorite places to visit, to a stranger online no matter how insistent the person becomes. Try to reiterate to your child that people may not be who they appear to be online and could attempt to take advantage of a child sexually or harm them in some other way if given the opportunity.

If someone online asks to meet your child, or begins sending him or her sexually explicit photographs, emails, text messages or chat messages, your child should know to immediately reach out to a trusted adult or parent.

Be proactive

If you're still leery of the danger of the internet, you can consider setting filters or blocks on certain websites to prevent your child from entering them. You can also set the computer in a family room or other public space to ensure that you can stay involved in the web-surfing experience.

Above all, try to establish an open and honest relationship with your son or daughter. He or she may be uncomfortable telling you about a situation out of fear of being judged, but if you let him or her know that they can come to you with any problem - even if it resulted in a broken family rule - your child may be more comfortable sharing information about scary situations.

Participate in prevention education

When it comes to eliminating the exploitation of children, prevention education is vitally important both on- and offline. Programs offered by the Canadian Red Cross like Be Safe, which is a child sexual abuse prevention kit, empower schools and communities to teach children from five to nine years-old about safety rules, body ownership and abuse. Taught in a way that engages kids in a friendly way, this significant program can help younger children understand the importance of personal protection.

For children over the age of 11, programs like It's Not Your Fault can help build valuable skills that will enable them to reach out for help and understand the rights they have to control their own bodies. This presentation, which is administered by trained volunteers, also helps children learn where to go to if they need assistance.

[1] David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, and Janis Wolak.  Online Victimization:  A Report on the Nation's Youth, Alexandria, Virginia:  National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2000, page ix. 

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