Predators Targeting Tween and Teen Girls - Do my kids know how to stay safe?

It can happen in any community...predators.  

There have been several recent incidents in our surrounding communities, alone.

"According to police, a 12-year-old girl was walking on U.S. Highway 12 from the Blackhawk Motel to Virk’s Mart when, a short distance from the motel, a van pulled up next to her. Police state that the driver of the van then coerced the girl into the vehicle, drove to Pines Park on Birch Street, and after parking the van fondled the girl." (source)

"Valparaiso police are investigating a second report of a man in a van approaching a teen girl in Beauty Creek Subdivision.

A 15-year-old girl was walking home in the area of Kickbush Drive and Knights Bridge Drive when police said a man driving a white van asked if she wanted a ride home." (source)


What Can Parents do?
In addition to teaching children how to recognize and handle dangerous situations and strangers, there are a few more things parents can do to help their children stay safe and avoid dangerous situations.

• Know where your children are at all times. Make it a rule that your children must ask permission or check in with you before going anywhere. Give your children your work and cell phone numbers so they can reach you at all times.
• Point out safe places. Show your children safe places to play, safe roads and paths to take, and safe places to go if there’s trouble.
• Teach children to trust their instincts. Explain that if they ever feel scared or uncomfortable, they should get away as fast as they can and tell an adult. Tell them that sometimes adults they know may make them feel uncomfortable, and they should still get away as fast as possible and tell another adult what happened. Reassure children that you will help them when they need it.
• Teach your children to be assertive. Make sure they know that it’s okay to say no to an adult and to run away from adults in dangerous situations.
• Encourage your children to play with others. There’s safety in numbers!   (source)

Who are safe strangers?

Obviously, not every stranger, that your child does not know, is dangerous. There are many helpful and good people in the world that can be trusted. Safe strangers are people children can ask for help when they need it.

• Police officers 
• Firefighters 
• Teachers
• Principals
• Librarians

Whenever possible, children should go to a public place to ask for help.You can help your children recognize safe strangers by pointing them out when you’re out in your town. Also show your children places they can go if they need help, such as local stores and restaurants and the homes of family friends in your neighborhood.  Many businesses and organizations have the "safe place" sign posted visibly. (source)

The dangers of predators are not limited to online or "questionable neighborhoods". Child predators and sex trafficking are growing problems throughout so many communities in the nation and world. It's so important that we continue reminding and teaching our children to be aware, be smart and trust their instincts.

Let's work together to keep kids safe!!

Push the Reset Button

Summer.  New routines, no routines, sleepy, hard working, playful, fun and free summer.  If there is ever a time to push the reset button and start fresh it's summer.  Kids are out of school and families have more time together. Routines have changed and there seems like endless time for nothing.  


During the school year, in the midst of packed schedules, long school days, endless homework and after school activities, priorities can get out of balance. It's easy for many important things that may have gotten caught in the crazy cycle.  

What better time to slow down and work on relationships and refocus some priorities. Here are a few ideas:



*  Make time for family dinners again.
    -Families who eat dinner together 3 or more nights a week have children 
     who engage in drugs, alcohol and other risky behaviors significantly less 
     (more than half). (source)

*  Unplug for a day - or a week!
    -91% of teens who start using media at age 11-12 will have sex before they 
    are out of high school. 

*  Do a service project or help someone in need, as a family.


*  Focus on family health - getting more rest and eating better.
   - More than 70% of physical health and mood issues stem from the gut.  
     Eating a healthy diet helping to care your teen's heath could improve many 
     issues. 

*  Try a new sport or activity together.

*  Plan a "stay cation" if your family is not going out of town together. 

*  Have long (maybe awkward) talks about how everyone is really doing.   

How do you plan to RESET this summer?

Privacy: How much is too much?

As kids grow older, they want their privacy respected.  Different families have different levels of privacy in their homes.

Some parents allow their kids/teens to have televisions and computers in their own rooms.  Other families wouldn't dream of that.  Some parents search rooms, check text messages and keep close tabs on where their teens are and who they are with.  Others allow more freedom. 

In a recent blog post that surfaced on the internet, a mother describes her experience when she took her teenage daughter to the doctor.  She came upon this sign:

                                                                           source   


You can read the rest of her blog post, but regardless this particular mother's reaction, the idea behind this sign would probably spark reactions in many parents. The idea that the tweens/teens have certain privacy rights that exclude the parents. 

Our goal in this post is to stir thought.  Socrates once said, "10 questions are better than 1 answer."  We want to know what parents are thinking regarding the level of privacy that teens deserve.


What are your thoughts on how much privacy a teen deserves or is entitled to, in general?

• Is it a parental "right" to be able check cell phone messages, data, internet history and nooks and crannies in the bedroom?

• Should medical professionals be able to meet with your child/teen without your presence?

• Should teens be required to meet with medical professionals privately, even if they don't want to?

• Should parents be excluded from participating in their childrens' business at school, at the doctor, or in social settings?

We want to spark conversations, not only in your own home, but possibly here.  We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.