The problem with registered sex offenders

[Mita Moni]

is that 90% of the children in the USA who are sexually abused are not abused by strangers. Their abusers are mostly people well known to the child, mostly dads, step dads, uncles, mom's boy friend, mom, the neighbor who baby sits, etc. So while you are on the internet looking for registered sex offenders in your neighborhood, your children may be in danger from the people you suspect the least. Please listen to your kids, notice when their behavior changes, notice when they don't want to be left with someone. As a therapist I have heard so many times that a child was refusing to go to the grandparent's (or uncle's or the ex's) house and the mother insisted over and over that the child go. The child was unable to talk about the abuse but was trying to avoid it the best way they knew how to. Children often think that the abuse is their fault and that they will be horribly punished if discovered. If you suspect that abuse is happening explain to your child that sex with a child is always the grown up's fault and that the child won't be punished.

[AnnaLisaW]

[QUOTE=mitamoni]...registered sex offenders in your neighborhood, ...QUOTE]
When I was 5-7 years old, I lived in an apartment building where our downstairs neighbor was a released child molester. Everyone knew it. He had told our parents when he moved in. (Back in the fifties, no one would have know if he hadn't told us.) All the children were warned that we were not allowed to be alone with him and to NEVER go into his apartment or let him into ours. He was nice and personable but he felt a little creepy so all of us obeyed the rules regarding him. There was never a problem and he was a good neighbor.

[pjpete]

This was a very unusual situation for sure...... :hmmm:

[QUOTE=mitamoni]...registered sex offenders in your neighborhood, ...QUOTE]
When I was 5-7 years old, I lived in an apartment building where our downstairs neighbor was a released child molester. Everyone knew it. He had told our parents when he moved in. (Back in the fifties, no one would have know if he hadn't told us.) All the children were warned that we were not allowed to be alone with him and to NEVER go into his apartment or let him into ours. He was nice and personable but he felt a little creepy so all of us obeyed the rules regarding him. There was never a problem and he was a good neighbor.