Monday, April 1, 2013

How do I protect my child from sexual predators?

"It's Not Your Fault," (formerly the Franks Foundation) is launching April's Child Abuse Prevention month by providing these simple steps which parents can take to protect their child from becoming a statistic.

As the mother of children who were abused by a friendly, helpful neighbor who turned out to be one of the most prolific sexual predators in our nation's history, "It's Not Your Fault" founder Polly Franks wants America's parents to take action.

1.  CHECK YOUR SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY.  Whether you live in a multi-million dollar home in a gated community or in the projects, you have an equal chance of having a sexual predator in your neighborhood.  Don't limit your searches to your own corner of the world.  Check the area around your child's school, relatives' homes, baby-sitter's home and neighborhoods of friends - anywhere your child spends time.  We recommend the Family Watch Dog site available on our website at

http://itsnotyourfault.familywatchdog.us.  This takes less than five minutes and won't cost you a dime.

2.  Don't allow your child to play alone in the front yard or in the back yard unattended.  The same rule applies for waiting alone at the bus stop, or walking alone in the neighborhood (or anywhere else.)

3. Supervise your child's computer/internet use.  Establish ironclad rules for computer use and enforce them.  Know who your child is communicating with online.  Educate your child about online stranger danger.

4.  Remember that 90 percent of incidents of child sexual abuse occur with someone your child knows.  Make sure your child knows that he or she can tell you ANYTHING.  There is no good reason for small children to have knowledge of sexual matters.  Believe your child.