Sexual Abuse Support Group
Sexual abuse is a relative cultural term used to describe sexual relations and behavior between two or more parties which are considered criminally and/or morally offensive. Different types of sexual abuse involve: Non-consensual, forced physical sexual behavior such as rape, incest or sexual assault, or psychological forms of abuse, such as verbal sexual behavior or...
The cable news station HLN is running a special report today on a test they did at a local playground. The program was narrated by Keera Phillips and there was a panel of experts to explain what was happening. The panel was of a PHD therapist, a child advocate and an expert on missing children.
They got parental permission to test to see if their children could be talked into getting into a stranger's vehicle. All the parents stated they had talked to their children about strangers and the danger of ever leaving with someone they did not know. The parents were present at the playground, setting on benches, just out of sight of the children.
They sent a "predator" - and HLN producer with a nice German Shepard dog on a leash, to the playground. He then tried to get the kids to first interact with his dog and then tried to talk them into walking with him to his truck to assist with something the dog needed.
Many of the children approached the dog before the man approached them. He would talk with them a little while, then say he had more treats in the car, or needed to water the dog and asked if the kids wanted to go with him.
A few of the children immediately knew to get away from the man, and went to tell their mother about the man, as they were told to do. But many others actually followed him to the truck. He asked a couple of kids to get into the large dog carrier to get the treats that were placed in the very back of the carrier. One child actually CLIMBED INTO THE CARRIER - all the "predator" would have to do is close the cage-door and then the tailgate, get in and drive off with them.
They show about 12 or so children that went with the abuser. One group of 6 kids went with this man at the same time!!! The mothers of these children were so shocked they did not want their kids faces shown. Several kids walked right by their mother without even mentioning where they were going or what they were doing. The panel advised all parents to be aware of the kids surroundings at all times - no ear buds, no watching iPads, and such - you are there to watch your children, not be entertained yourself.
The panel suggests that not only the parents need to tell the kids NOT to go with these people, but to go to someone like an older child or an employee of a store or such to tell what is happening. But even then, as some predators work in teams, that they should always seek their parents or couples with other children and such - but MAINLY for the parents to keep the kids close or where they can see the kids at all times. Also, another parent (not one of the informed parents) saw what this man was doing and SHE stopped him from taking three little girls to the truck - they commented on her intervention and how we may need to look after the children of OTHERS in case such occurs. This woman was aware that we are ALL responsible for stopping predators.
Really interesting "test" - some parents were really shocked at how easy it was to get their children to go - they all thought they had stressed the dangers of such to their children time and again, but it showed how easily some children are to trust and be distracted by such things as dogs, toys, other children (perhaps the child of an abuser that is being used as "bait") and such.
The producer who was acting as the predator had to stop the "test" as he said it had impacted him and was really bothering him as he was able to gain the trust of these children so easily - he said he felt like he was breaking the trust between the kids and their mother.
They also had a segment on children abduction - just outright grabbing the child and how for the child to respond - they suggest the children yell, and start hitting the abusers arms, and stomping their foot, saying even a 3- year old who hits an abductor in the nose or eyes can make the abuser tear up and this fogs their vision - ALSO they should try to get ANYONE to see what is happening, by throwing all the change or whatever is in their pockets at strangers, such as that. They show how a child who is being held by their arm by an abductor can run and to try to find places that are hard for an adult to go - between benches and walls, dumpsters and walls, etc. places that adults can not easily run.
It is worth looking at this on HLN or the internet - very good show with some really good tips and surprising results.
Hope some take note and I suggest all parents see this special report. Well done!!!
Refuse2quit
They got parental permission to test to see if their children could be talked into getting into a stranger's vehicle. All the parents stated they had talked to their children about strangers and the danger of ever leaving with someone they did not know. The parents were present at the playground, setting on benches, just out of sight of the children.
They sent a "predator" - and HLN producer with a nice German Shepard dog on a leash, to the playground. He then tried to get the kids to first interact with his dog and then tried to talk them into walking with him to his truck to assist with something the dog needed.
Many of the children approached the dog before the man approached them. He would talk with them a little while, then say he had more treats in the car, or needed to water the dog and asked if the kids wanted to go with him.
A few of the children immediately knew to get away from the man, and went to tell their mother about the man, as they were told to do. But many others actually followed him to the truck. He asked a couple of kids to get into the large dog carrier to get the treats that were placed in the very back of the carrier. One child actually CLIMBED INTO THE CARRIER - all the "predator" would have to do is close the cage-door and then the tailgate, get in and drive off with them.
They show about 12 or so children that went with the abuser. One group of 6 kids went with this man at the same time!!! The mothers of these children were so shocked they did not want their kids faces shown. Several kids walked right by their mother without even mentioning where they were going or what they were doing. The panel advised all parents to be aware of the kids surroundings at all times - no ear buds, no watching iPads, and such - you are there to watch your children, not be entertained yourself.
The panel suggests that not only the parents need to tell the kids NOT to go with these people, but to go to someone like an older child or an employee of a store or such to tell what is happening. But even then, as some predators work in teams, that they should always seek their parents or couples with other children and such - but MAINLY for the parents to keep the kids close or where they can see the kids at all times. Also, another parent (not one of the informed parents) saw what this man was doing and SHE stopped him from taking three little girls to the truck - they commented on her intervention and how we may need to look after the children of OTHERS in case such occurs. This woman was aware that we are ALL responsible for stopping predators.
Really interesting "test" - some parents were really shocked at how easy it was to get their children to go - they all thought they had stressed the dangers of such to their children time and again, but it showed how easily some children are to trust and be distracted by such things as dogs, toys, other children (perhaps the child of an abuser that is being used as "bait") and such.
The producer who was acting as the predator had to stop the "test" as he said it had impacted him and was really bothering him as he was able to gain the trust of these children so easily - he said he felt like he was breaking the trust between the kids and their mother.
They also had a segment on children abduction - just outright grabbing the child and how for the child to respond - they suggest the children yell, and start hitting the abusers arms, and stomping their foot, saying even a 3- year old who hits an abductor in the nose or eyes can make the abuser tear up and this fogs their vision - ALSO they should try to get ANYONE to see what is happening, by throwing all the change or whatever is in their pockets at strangers, such as that. They show how a child who is being held by their arm by an abductor can run and to try to find places that are hard for an adult to go - between benches and walls, dumpsters and walls, etc. places that adults can not easily run.
It is worth looking at this on HLN or the internet - very good show with some really good tips and surprising results.
Hope some take note and I suggest all parents see this special report. Well done!!!
Refuse2quit
Excellent study. Thank you for sharing this.
I just hear my mother had I been that child - she would have said little to the news crew, but BUDDY when I got home, all HELL would have broken out!!! Of course, that was a different time and place, so.
Yes a very interesting report - worth the watch.
Refuse2quit
Then I thought what happened was my punishment for being bad.
You know the media - they look at the "Interest of the day" - the Helio Castroneves trial coverage probably was what brought this about as he abducted his victims when they were children. Again, it was not about the abuse of these victims, just how easy it was to get a child out of a playground even after they have been told to never leave such an areas with strangers.
Interesting, but will not end sexual abuse - It may however keep some child from being abused or killed by a stranger, so the importance of this is still immense.
Refuse2quit