8 Proven Strategies to Safeguard Your Children in a Dangerous World
- Sandy Ische
- 13 hours ago
- 8 min read
It was early Saturday morning and I was in the kitchen washing the breakfast dishes when my 2-year-old son, Jonathan, came running into the kitchen.
“Mommy, Mommy.”
I said, “Just a minute sweetie, I am almost done washing the dishes.”
He left and came back just a few moments later. “But Mommy, there is a man at the door.” My heart skipped a beat as I heard his words trail off. I was immediately taken aback and turned off the water from the kitchen sink faucet.
Our son had apparently answered the door, came to let me know, went looking for Daddy, and returned to inform me that a man had come to the door. Little had we realized Jonathan had opened the front door and a stranger had been waiting outside our house during this short time.
The man at the door seemed nice enough, but just earlier that week a 9-year-old little girl had been snatched from her front door. Needless to say, I was scared and anxious. I spoke to the man ever so briefly and quickly shut the door, then I reiterated the danger of opening the door to my son who did not understand the potential danger.
On one other occasion, it was a beautiful Sunday morning and we were getting ready to head out the door to go to church.
Guess who beat us out the door?
I said to my husband, “Where’s Marissa?” when I noticed the front door was open.
I quickly ran to the door and noticed our daughter climbing into the van. Then I spotted a taxi cab from the corner of my eye. The cab was parked right across the street from our house. The taxi driver was in his car with his eyes fixated on my little girl. The man’s gaze turned toward me as he saw me come onto the front porch and he quickly sped off.
Our daughter, Marissa, was just elementary age. We had always instructed her to wait for Mommy and Daddy before going outside. She was excited to go to church, though, and who can blame her? I had a sinking feeling and was so grateful to have noticed Marissa was outside when I did.
The Responsibility of Parenting in a Dangerous World
As a first-time parent, I was always reading up on parenting tips from parenting magazines, attending workshops, and going to CPR and first aid classes. And yet, how do we teach our children about danger and the world we live in?
Educating Your Children About Personal Safety
For instance, we hear about kidnappings and sexual abuse and human trafficking. In Justin Holcomb’s book God Made All of Me, he educates parents on 9 Ways to Protect Your Children from Sexual Abuse, including teaching our children that God made their body, inviting our children to talk to us, and identifying whom to trust.
The Alarming Statistics on Child Sexual Abuse and Trafficking
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the U.S. are estimated to experience child sexual abuse (National Children’s Alliance)
67% of all sexual assault victims are children (Children’s Advocacy Project)
1 out of 3 of girls (33%) are sexually abused before the age of 18 (National Center for Victims of Crime)
Roughly 1 out of 6 (16%) of boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 (National Center for Victims of Crime)
3 out of 4 adolescents (74%) who have been sexually assaulted were victimized by someone they knew well (National Sexual Violence Resource Center)
The Threat of Online Exploitation and Trafficking
As parents and caregivers, it remains our responsibility to safeguard our children. We must stay informed, educated, and vigilant about the potential dangers they may encounter and know how to effectively protect them.
It’s essential to have open discussions with your children about safety. While talking about physical safety—such as traveling to and from school is important, it's equally vital to address the risks they might face online. As kids use the internet and smart devices more for school and socializing, parents must make digital safety a top priority. With the increasing dangers in both the real and virtual worlds, these conversations are crucial to help children navigate their surroundings safely.
Social media plays a major role in the lives of children and teenagers, with platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Roblox offering opportunities for communication and connection. However, these platforms also present serious dangers, as traffickers increasingly use them to target and exploit vulnerable young people. In Colorado, law enforcement has observed a significant rise in cyber tips related to online child exploitation, with 41% of victim recruitment occurring through online channels, according to the 2020 Federal Human Trafficking Report. Additionally, more than 18,000 cases of online child sexual exploitation were reported in the state last year, reflecting a concerning increase.
According to the U.S. State Department, a person is a victim of sex trafficking when they are forced to engage in commercial sex. In addition, Dr. Katarina Rosenblatt, LLM, PhD, human trafficking and domestic violence speaker and trainer teaches us that children are “being enticed or lured through some form of false relationship or one of their basic living needs being met through the provision of food, clothing, shelter, drugs or anything of value in exchange for sex.” She believes this vulnerability may be the result of the breakdown of the American family. Perpetrators mainly look to recruit children who come from broken homes or foster care by enticing them into a family-like environment where they are provided with a false sense of belonging.
The Emotional Impact of Abuse on Children
Children who endure abuse often have difficulty regulating their emotions, responding to stress with extreme outbursts, withdrawal, or avoidance. They may also develop long-term mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or anger, which can persist into adulthood and contribute to conditions such as PTSD, depression, and personality disorders. Continuous abuse, whether it's physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, can profoundly damage a child’s self-esteem, causing them to internalize harmful messages from their abusers and feel worthless, inadequate, or ashamed. This can impair their ability to take risks, build healthy relationships, or trust their own capabilities as they mature. Abuse creates a constant sense of threat, often leading to hypervigilance, which is an intense awareness of potential dangers that makes it difficult for children to relax, trust others, or engage in normal childhood experiences, contributing to anxiety and difficulties in forming close bonds later in life. Additionally, children who grow up with emotional invalidation or suppression often find it hard to recognize or express what they feel, leaving them detached from their emotions and uncertain about how to share their needs, which can harm their relationships with others.
Children who have experienced abuse often have difficulty trusting others and forming healthy relationships. They may keep themselves emotionally distant and protective as a way to shield themselves from further harm. Trauma can cause some children to act out aggressively, while others may withdraw socially, avoiding interactions due to fear or feelings of insecurity. This can impair their ability to develop strong social skills and fully engage in group environments, such as school or recreational activities. Abused children may also struggle with empathy, understanding social cues, and resolving conflicts, making them more vulnerable to bullying, which can lead to further isolation. In some cases, they may act out as bullies themselves, channeling their anger and frustration as a coping mechanism for their trauma.
Practical Steps for Parents to Protect Their Children
Being a parent involves teaching children right from wrong and equipping them with knowledge that empowers them and safeguards their well-being. It is necessary to reiterate this information to our children throughout their childhood and youth. As with my son and daughter, they had both forgotten that we had taught them to wait for Mom or Dad before leaving the house and that they were not allowed to open the door for anyone.
It's crucial that we equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to identify the dangers our children face and understand how to effectively protect them in today’s world. This begins with fostering open communication and offering guidance that is suitable for their age. By helping our children stay alert to their environment, recognize trustworthy adults, and understand personal boundaries, including what constitutes inappropriate touch. We need to give them the tools to stay safe and move through the world with confidence.
8 Parenting Tips to Help Safeguard Your Children
Join a parenting support group to stay informed and connected
Participate in a parenting Bible study or Life Group for guidance and support
Get trained in CPR and First Aid to be prepared for emergencies
Develop a comprehensive Child Safety Plan, including online and offline protection
Encourage open communication by creating a safe space for dialogue
Stay up-to-date on parenting trends and best practices for Child Safety
Attend educational workshops and trainings to strengthen your parenting skills
Teach your children about whom they can trust and stranger safety and about their bodies and personal boundaries
Questions for Reflection and Action
How will you equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to protect your children in today’s world?
What practical steps can you take today to better educate and safeguard your children from potential dangers?
How can you get involved to help prevent human trafficking in your community, whether through volunteer work or advocacy?
What lessons or insights have you gained from your parenting journey that could help other families stay safe and informed?
How can we strengthen our community’s efforts to protect children and raise awareness about the dangers they face?
What steps can you take today to ensure that you are not only protecting your child but also empowering them to recognize and respond to danger in their own lives?
The Spiritual Role of Parents in Safeguarding Children
As parents and caregivers, the responsibility to protect our children from the dangers that exist in the world can feel overwhelming. But by staying informed, building a strong support network, and taking proactive steps to safeguard their well-being, we can create a safer environment for them to grow and thrive. The journey may not always be easy, but every action we take, from teaching our children about personal safety to advocating for broader community efforts, makes a difference. Together, we can empower our children to recognize and avoid threats, while also providing them with the tools they need to navigate the world confidently and securely. Let’s be vigilant, stay educated, and most importantly, show up for our children - because they deserve nothing less.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” – Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Resources:
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