As a parent you try to keep your child safe. You have checked the sex offender web sites and know where the pedophiles are in your area. You warn your child to not talk to strangers. You don't let your child go into stranger's houses by themselves. Is this enough? No, there are other steps you can take to protect your child from pedophiles.

There are numerous web sites where you can check for sex offenders. These websites have helped parents to protect their children from pedophiles, but what if the sexual predator looks outside his neighborhood for his next victim?

On January 11, 2008 the Deer Valley Unified School District in Glendale, AZ sent a letter home to parents to warn them of an attempted abduction of one of their students. A child was stopped by a person in a big, older car and told to "get in the car." Fortunately that student didn't and ran away. She told her father who contacted the police and filed a report. Her parents saved her by telling her what she should do when confronted by a stranger.

Early in the week Church of Joy, a church that has a very large daycare and child center, reported a suspicious vehicle in their parking lot. After an investigation the police found that the owner of the vehicle was a registered sex offender who does not live in the community. The vehicle was an older GMC white van with license plates 813-YTW. Was this person stalking their next victim? They could have been, and maybe because someone took the time to contact the police a child was saved.

A great resource to protect you child is a book written by Jan Hindman called "A Touching Book." This book helps to educate children about sexual abuse. The book is written in a non threatening way and helps to teach your child to judge whether contact with an adult is appropriate or inappropriate. It is written directly for children including cartoon illustrations. I am in no way affiliated with this author, I just found the book to be a very valuable tool in protecting my child from pedophiles.

The State of Arizona Department of Public Safety's website states "Sex offenders come from all walks of life and from all socio-economic groups. They can be male or female, rich or poor, employed or unemployed, religious or non-religious, educated or uneducated, and from any race." Just because some seems nice doesn't mean they are nice.

A church is a place where you might feel safe with your children. Just remember a priest or a pastor is in a perfect position to take advantage of a child. Parents instinctively trust that they are an extension of God's hand and would never harm their children. Most of the time that is the case, but it just takes one evil person to harm your child. Also do not let your child walk around the church by themselves, even to go to the bathroom. Children have been taken, even in this holy place.

Make sure you are doing everything you can to protect your child from child predators. A key way to protect your child from pedophiles is to communicate with them and to keep your eyes open. Do you notice a strange vehicle or person? Contact the police. If a child looks like they are in trouble, stop to help. If you are wrong and the situation is innocent, the police will move on. It is better to be too vigilant than not enough when it comes to a child's safety.

Sources and important links:

http://az.gov/webapp/offender/ main.do
http://www.sexoffender.com/sea rch.html
http://www.ncmec.org/
http://www.registeredoffenders list.org/

Learn more about this author, Rissa Watkins.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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