Staying safe: protecting against paedophiles Here are some practical steps you can take to help you protect your child.

Knowing the risks

The image of a stranger in a dirty raincoat bears little relation to reality - paedophiles come from all walks of life and may be in positions of power and trust.

Paedophiles:

• Sometimes try to win over parents to get close to their children - single parents may be more vulnerable
• Are often attracted to careers or places that let them be close to children, such as youth groups, schools, playgrounds and parks
• Often spend time 'grooming' children with gifts or special attention - trying to build trust - before abuse takes place
• Often tell children their relationship must be a secret
• May make children feel chosen or special - children who feel they don't have enough love and attention at home may be especially vulnerable
• Can use their position to threaten a child - for example, a sports coach who won't let a child stay on the team if they tell

There are a number of things you can do to help ensure your child is as safe as possible:

• Teach sex education as early as possible. Explaining about private parts of the body and appropriate sexual behaviour is important. Many children get confused when they don't know what's normal.
• Encourage open communication in your family. Make time to talk and listen to your children so they know they can tell you anything.
• Be wary of adults who become very interested in your children. Watch out for adults who want to spend a lot of time with your kids, give them gifts or take them out alone.
• Teach children they have an absolute right to say no to any adult who upsets or scares them. Don't force them to kiss or hug anyone - even grandma! This lets them know they have a right to say no, and that their bodies are theirs.
• Talk about not keeping secrets. Let your kids know they can tell you anything, even if someone has made them promise they won't tell or has pressured them into keeping a secret.

Safety online

It's important to have some family rules about using websites and email, and to warn your children about possible risks. These include accidently viewing pornography, or being targeted by strangers online.

You may want to:

• Keep the computer in a family area rather than in a bedroom
• Take an interest in what your child's looking at on the internet
• Stress your child should never give out personal details such as address, telephone number or the name of their school

What to do if you think a child's being abused

If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, it's better to trust your instincts and take action to make sure any abuse is stopped.

• Call the NSPCC child protection helpline on 0808 800 5000 or textphone 0800 056 0566 to discuss your concerns
• Call the police - if a child's in danger contact them immediately
• Talk to your GP, health visitor or social services for advice on what to do next

This article was last reviewed by Heather Welford in September 2008.

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