Every parent is heartbreaking when they see the news of child molester. Besides bullying, do you know that every 9 minutes, the child protective services agency finds evidence of child abuse. While protective measures have improved, stopping child predators is still hard. According to the US Department of Health & Human Services for Children, more than 676,000 children are victimized in America every year. Of those, nearly 20% are sexually abused. If you want to keep your child safe, you need to be able to recognize the pedophile warning signs.
Related Reading:
- Talking About Birds and Bees (sex) to Your Kids: Tips for Every Parent
- What to Do When Family Members Hurt You
- 10 Ways to Be an Upstanders in Bullying
- Prevent Kids from Bullying: A Complete Guide for Young Schoolers’ Parents (5 to 8 years)
Table of Contents
Definition of Child Predator: What is a Pedophile?
A pedophile or child molester is someone who sexually abuses children. They may be attracted to boys, girls, or both.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Pedophilia refers to a sexual preference for children. A person with Pedophilia has fantasies or urges that involve illegal sexual activity with a prepubescent child (usually age 13 years or younger).”
While it’s essential to know the definition of a pedophile, it’s also worth noting that not all pedophiles are child predators, and in other words, not all pedophiles act on their urges.
However, it’s estimated that anywhere between 10% to 40% of pedophiles are repeat offenders.
Mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to diagnose mental disorders. As a result, it’s often referred to as the “bible” of psychiatry.
In the DSM-5, Pedophilia is classified as paraphilia. According to the DSM-5, paraphilia is “a group of persistent and intense atypical sexual arousal patterns that involve unusual objects, activities, or situations.”
How to Look Up Pedophiles in Your Area
Of course, if you want to keep your child safe, you need to know the warning signs of pedophile how to look up predators and offenders in your area.
The first place to start is the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website. This website was created by the US Department of Justice, allowing you to search for sex offenders by name, address, city, or zip code.
Also, you can look up sex offenders on the Family Watchdog website. Again you can browse by name, address, or zip code. In addition, you can contact your local police department or sheriff’s office and ask for a list of sex offenders in your area. Many states have their own public sex offender registries.
You can find a list of state registries here.
Most sexual abusers know their victims; approximately 30% are relatives of the child, most commonly brothers, fathers, uncles, or cousins. Roughly 60% are other acquaintances, such as “family friends,” babysitters, or neighbors; In approximately 10% of cases of child sexual abuse, strangers are the perpetrators.
8 Pedophile Warning Signs
While it’s essential to know how to look up predators in your area, it’s crucial to know the pedophile warning signs. Here are 10 warning signs that someone may be a sexual predator.
1. The person has a special interest in your child
You must be aware that anyone can be a predator – relatives, babysitters, or teachers – so you must be vigilant. One of the warning signs is if someone shows a special interest in your child. When they see a child they are interested in; they will try to get the child to like them and ultimately trust them.
Most of the time, they’ll try to achieve this by talking up the child. However, they might also try to convince your child that you or your partner don’t understand them. If you notice your child complaining about either parent, it may be a sign that someone is trying to turn them against you.
2. Use of divine-related terms to describe children
In 9 out of 10 cases, pedophiles describe themselves as “religious.” That’s one of the reasons why they often use religious or spiritual language to talk about children.
They may refer to them as “angels” or “pure, innocent souls.” If you notice someone using this kind of language, keep an eye on them. Of course, this person might not use these words in front of you.
But if your child hears these expressions often, they’ll probably start using them too. If you start hearing your child using these terms, ask them where they heard it and who said it.
3. This person regularly pushes boundaries with the child
One of the most common warning signs is if someone regularly pushes boundaries with the child. They might try to hug them, tickle them when they don’t want to be petted, or sit too close to them.
They may also try to get the child to keep secrets from you or spend time alone with them. If you notice this happening, it’s essential to step in and put a stop to it.
Even something seemingly innocent, like having a child sit on their lap, can be a warning sign. Of course, not all people who do this are pedophiles. But it’s still important to be aware of the possibility.
Related Reading:
- 8 Best Positive and Gentle Parenting Books for Toddlers’ Parents
- Room Parent Feedback – Parents Involvement in Primary School
- 10 Signs of Toxic Parenting and How to Deal with It
- 5 Playful Ideas To Encourage Your Toddler Talk With You
4. Provoking anger aimed at parents in children
Pedophiles will often try to provoke anger in children aimed at their parents. They might do this by telling the child that their parents are too strict or that they don’t understand them.
They might also try to convince the child that their parents are getting a divorce or that one of them is cheating on the other. If you notice your child acting out more than usual, it may be a sign that someone is trying to turn them against you.
5. They might make remarks about your child’s development
When an average person sees a child growing up, they might comment on how cute they are or how much they’ve grown. However, a pedophile might remark on the child’s body or sexual development.
For example, they might say something like, “You’re getting so big! I bet you’ll be as tall as your dad soon!” Or, “Your breasts are starting to develop, and you can’t wait to grow up and have your kids.”
Talk to your child, and help them realize that adults talking to them this way isn’t appropriate.
6. Walking in when the child is in the bedroom or bathroom
This one might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. If someone is constantly walking in on your child when they’re in the bathroom or bedroom.
No one should be doing this except for parents or guardians. If you notice this happening, make sure to confront the person and stop it immediately.
7. They might try to isolate the child from their parents
Pedophiles will often try to separate the child from their parents. They might do this by convincing the child that their parents are too strict or that they don’t understand them.
They might also try to get the child to keep secrets from you or spend time alone with them. As soon as you notice this happening, it’s essential to step in and put a stop to it.
Confrontation might seem like a difficult thing to do, but it’s essential to protect your child.
8. They might be overly interested in the child’s sexual development
This is one of the most obvious warning signs. If someone is constantly asking your child about their sexual development or making crude sexual jokes, it’s a red flag.
They might also be excessively interested in hearing about the child’s masturbation habits or sexual fantasies. This is not normal behavior, and you should take action if you notice it.
Final Thoughts from Pragmatic Lifestyle
If you notice any of the above pedophile warning signs, it’s essential to take action. You need to watch closely to your child, ensure there is no contact, talk about the issue with your child, teach them how to protect themselves. In the worst situation, even involve law enforcement. The most important thing is to keep your child safe.
Related Reading:
- Positive Discipline – How to Get Your Toddler to Listen Without Yelling
- Top 5 Safe & Strong Family Dog (Best Choices For Kids)
- 10 Reasons for Kids to Have Pet
- 7 Classic Discipline Strategy That Still Work (on primary school kids)
- 7 Old-fashioned Discipline Techniques You Should Avoid At All (on primary school kids)
About Me
Hi, there. I am Lin. Together with my husband and two kids, we live in the beautiful Netherlands in Europe. I am dedicated to self-development, creating quality time for the whole family, and fully supporting kids with their potentials and possibilities with all I have learned from engineering, MBA, and 10+ years of working experience in the energy sector.
