Information for Parents
Sex-trafficking impacts children. Keep your children safe through safety education and awareness.
Educating your children about sex-trafficking.
Prevention is a direct result of educating our children about the real dangers of this horrific crime.
We urge all parents to please take the time to talk to their kids about "stranger danger" both on and offline. This term is used very broadly but has so much significance and importance. Talk to your kids about ways to keep themselves safe. You can also teach them the "help me" hand signal (pictured below) in case they find themselves in a scary situation.
Why does this matter?
Statistics tell us:
-
1 in 10 children are sexually abused and most survivors report being sexually abused as children
-
2 million children are sold each year through sex trafficking
-
The average age of children running away and entering into sex trafficking is 13-14 years old
-
Within 48 hours of running away, 1 out of 3 children are solicited for sex
How to talk to your kids about their safety
The list below consists of many different areas where children and young adults are challenged. Whether it's to them personally or to someone they are close to that affects them personally, and then left to take action into their own hands.
Most of the time, their coping strategies and decisions are far from good. Many times they don't feel safe to reach out to a trusting adult and then they are compelled to lean on not-so-good "friends" which in turn leads them down paths they never should have gone down.
Many children feel left out, not heard, or ignored when they truly need to be valued and listened to. They need direction and guidance. If they do not get this at home or from a trusted adult, oftentimes they run, or they look outside the home or on the internet for validation and purpose, and then it may be too late.
Look intentionally over these topics and ask those tough questions if you need to. The age of your children will determine if they want to talk or discuss certain things but also if you have given them the space and safety they need in order to do so as well.
Areas to talk aboutwith your kids:
Anxiety
Attachment
Attraction
Abuse
ADHD
Ambition
Anger
Behavior
Bullying
Childhood
Dating
Depression
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorders
Family
Friendship
Grief
Guilt
Happiness
Intimacy
Loneliness
Love
Marriage
Medication
Parenting
Personality
Pornography
Punishment
Rejection
Relationships
Self-Esteem
Self-Awareness
School
Shame
Trauma
Worry