Safe Connections: A Parent's Guide to Protecting Young Teens from Sexual Exploitation
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About this ebook
Though children grow older, concerns about the danger of sexual abuse may persist for some parents. This accessible manual provides help in continuing discussions about personal safety with preteens and teens, and it alerts parents to the issues of online predators, sexting, and sexual exploitation—especially in what appear to be romantic relationships. It also provides practical advice for those who want to ensure that their children are safe with the parents’ own friends or romantic partners. Safe Connections, with its detailed lists of warning signs that an adolescent is being abused or is becoming an abuser, is ideal for use in school safety curricula.
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Safe Connections - Sandy K. Wurtele
Introduction
Keeping children safe is priority number one for virtually all parents. Many parents, especially those raising tweens
(pre-teenagers between 10 and 12) and young teens (13 to 15), also worry about their children’s sexual safety as they start connecting romantically with others.
Today’s tweens and teens face many risks as they seek out romantic connections both online and offline. What are some of these dangers?
Sexual abuse by adults. According to the most reliable studies, as many as one out of eight boys and girls are sexually exploited by adults at some point during their childhood, with the highest rate among 12- to 15-year-olds.
Dating violence victim or offender. While dating can be one of the best things about being a teenager, some of these relationships are unhealthy, and even violent. In a nationwide survey, one out of ten high school students reported being physically, sexually, or psychologically abused by a girlfriend or boyfriend.
Sexually exploiting younger children. Teens make up almost forty percent of sexual offenders against younger children. Early adolescence (between 12 and 14) is the peak age for sexually harming younger children.
Sexting—sending sexually explicit photos or videos by cell phone or online—is fairly common among young people. One out of five young people have sent nude images of themselves or their friends, sometimes with dire consequences. Teens have faced charges for sending explicit images, which are classified as child pornography by law. There have also been tragic cases of teens committing suicide after their sexts,
originally sent to close friends, got circulated around their schools and beyond.
Hooking up
with online predators. The Internet is an ideal way for sexual abusers to hook up with young teens. Their victims are usually teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 15. A recent national survey found that one out of eight teenagers received unwanted sexual solicitations over the Internet. Fortunately, few teens report actually meeting these cyber predators
in person, as such meetings can be very dangerous.
What Can Parents Do?
The teenage years can be a difficult time for both kids and parents. What can you do to help protect your teenager from being sexually exploited and from exploiting others?
Learn about the dangers facing this new generation of teenagers.
Recognize the warning signs of sexual abuse and sexual offending behaviors.
Talk openly with your child about healthy relationships and dating rights and responsibilities.
Assist your teen to make safe decisions about connecting romantically.
Help your teen become a critical consumer of today’s sexually charged media environment.
Do your best to stay connected to your teen.
Tweens and teens need your guidance